Choosing to add a pet to your life can be both an exciting and daunting task. It is one thing to decide that you want to get a dog, but it is another to go about the task of doing it. Once the decision is made, the next step is to see how are you going to do it. Are you going to adopt or buy? There are strong opinions on both sides of the spectrum, but when it comes down to it, you need to decide what will work best for you.

Once you have answered all the questions related to the type of dog you want such as, do you want a large or a small dog? Does it matter if they are an adult or a puppy? And their activity level. Start thinking about what you are willing to take on. Below we have both pros and cons to both adoption and buying a dog to help guide you in making that decision.

ADOPTION

PROS

●       The biggest benefit of adopting a dog is the fact that you are saving a life and bringing a dog into your home to be loved.

●       Almost all dogs that come from reputable rescues and shelters will already be spayed or neutered and be up to date with the Rabies vaccine. Many shelters, rescues, and other adoption organizations will have dogs that are completely up to date on all preventative health measures such as vaccines, heartworm test and prevention, deworming, flea and tick prevention, and microchips.

●       You can adopt at almost any life stage that you want, from a puppy to a geriatric dog.

●       Many organizations will take the dog back if for some reason the adoption does not work out and you need to return the dog.

CONS

●       Depending on where you adopt the dog from, you may not have any history of the dog beside what the organisation has done. This can be harder especially for those adopting older dogs, because they may come with prior medical conditions that you didn’t know about during the adoption process.

●       Many dogs coming from an adoption situation may have some sort of behavioural challenge that may require some additional training or flexibility and patience on your part.

●       You may not get a dog that is in your desired age range or one that is older or younger than you expected.

●       You will not be able to guarantee how pure-bred your dog is, even if they look like they are a specific breed.

Overall, adoption is a wonderful option that can lead you to a one-of-a-kind companion. When looking at adoption organizations look at all the services the organization has, how they treat their animals, and what benefits you may receive from adopting them from that organization. Most animal rescues have a 501(c)3 non-profit status and partner with veterinarians, pet stores, and/or different animal-friendly organizations in the community where you may be able to get your first healthy pet exam for free or get a discount on dog food with your adoption.

BUYING

PROS

●       You can pick a specific breed that you are interested în.

●       You not only have your puppies history, but you have the genetic history of the puppy, the puppy’s parents, and the rest of the line.

●       There is more predictability in how your puppy will grow up to look like and also the type of demeanour they will have.

●       You can raise the puppy the way you would like and create the behaviours and mannerisms that suit your personality and lifestyle.

●       Good breeders will take their puppies/dogs back if something doesn’t work out.

CONS

●       You will more than likely end up paying more for a puppy.

●       You will have to pay for all of the preventative health measures such as spaying or neutering, additional vaccines, deworming, etc.

●       Even if you purchase from a breeder, you may end up having a dog that has genetic disorders or other diseases.

If you chose to go the breeder route, make sure you do your research and find reputable breeders that are choosing to breed the best traits of the breed and are not breeding because of other motivations.

Bringing a dog into your family and home is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Not only do they give you companionship but they also have shown to increase people’s happiness. When it comes down to the how to make sure that you do your research and make sure the breeder or the organization is reputable and has you and your new dog’s best interest at heart. At the end of the day, the goal is to place a dog in their forever home whether they come from a breeder or through adoption.

Bio:

Kaylin Stinski

https://www.instagram.com/blackandwhitesummit/

kstinski21@gmail.com

Throughout my life, I have always been very passionate about animals and have worked in the veterinary medicine field for the last 10 years. Outside of working directly with the animals, I really enjoy educating clients on the overall care of their pets; not only from a medical perspective but also discussing general concerns such as behavioural interventions and preventative care.