If you are reading this blog you probably already know that adopting a dog allows you to save a life. Not only do you save the life of the dog that you adopt but you free up shelter space for organizations to accept more dogs into their care. With the number of euthanized dogs increasing every year, shelters are struggling to keep up so your decision to adopt is more import than ever. Aside from reducing pet overpopulation, you help support the mission of shelters in your area.
How to select a Las Vegas pet rescue
There are dozens of shelter and rescue facilities including city and privately owned locations. Some rescue organizations are breed specific and others have many different breeds to choose from. Some facilities are subsidized by tax dollars and others are non profit organizations. Adoption fees will range significantly depending on the facility that you select as well. Those fees go to cover spay/neuter, microchipping and vaccines. Some facilities will require home visits and reference checks while others will not. If you have other pets in your home, you will want to find out the policy for a meet & greet or even an in-home trial.
There is little oversight or governmental regulation to distinguish reputable animal welfare groups so do your research and watch out for abnormally high adoption fees as a red flag.
How to select a shelter dog
Come up with a list of requirements for a dog to meet your lifestyle and household. If you live in an apartment, don’t get a dog that needs lots of exercise. If you want to hike with your dog, be certain to find a dog that is capable of that sort of activity. If you like playing ball, make sure that the dog responds well to toys and balls. Smarter dog breeds will require more mental stimulation and get bored easier. A bored dog might equal damage in your home if he or she doesn’t know where to direct bored energy. It might help to make a checklist of breeds that have the characteristics that are important to you.
Consider the cost of owning the dog as well. Larger breeds will require more food than smaller breeds. You might also want to check the age and breed of the dog to see if they are predisposed to any potentially expensive medical conditions. Many rescue organizations have staff veterinarians that will do a wellness check when they admit a dog into their care.
If you find a pup that pulls on your heart strings and meets the criteria for your lifestyle then ask for a quiet place to meet with the dog. Most shelters will have defined meet and greet rooms so you can give the pup some one on one attention. If the dog is panting and whining, he/she might be stressed out. Consider an extended visit with some soothing conversation to give him or her an opportunity to calm down. If the two of you hit it off, ask the shelter a few questions before moving forward.
Adoption questions to ask
- What do you know about the dog’s temperament?
- Do you know anything about previous home(s)?
- What can you tell me about the dog’s behavior while in your care?
- Was the dog checked by a veterinarian?
- Does the dog have any known medical issues?
- What commands or tricks does the dog know?
Las Vegas Adoption Partners
Although we encourage you to do your own research, the following organizations are recommended by the Barx Parx Foundation.
| Henderson Animal Shelter Henderson Animal Care and Control aids, comforts, and provides medical attention to animals that come under the Shelter’s care. They enforce the laws that protect animals and the community. https://bit.ly/HendersonAnimalShelter (702) 267-4970 |
| Nevada SPCA Saving homeless pets in Southern Nevada by providing them shelter, care, and loving new homes. https://nevadaspca.org (702) 873-7722 [email protected] |
| Pawtastic Friends Providing enrichment training programs to rescue dogs, preparing them for adoption. Donations will help supply basic training, aquatics, or advanced training to a dog who is accepted into the program. https://www.pawtasticfriends.com/ [email protected] |
| Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization saving dogs from cruel and inhumane situations overseas. http://www.retrieverrescuelv.com/ [email protected] |
| Shari’s Shepherd Sanctuary Shari's Shepherd Sanctuary is committed to providing shelter, love, and care to any German Shepherds in need. https://www.sharisshepsanctuary.org/ 702-830-7447 [email protected] |
You’ve made a wonderful decision to adopt your pet. Hopefully using the information above you are able to make an educated choice about a trusted shelter and find a loving dog that will integrate smoothly into your home. Remember that adoption is a long term commitment. If you aren’t ready for a long term commitment, consider fostering a dog. Barx Parx Foundation works with partners that are always in need of foster homes. If your foster works out, you can usually adopt the pup that you are fostering.
