As an owner, you probably see your dog as a good friend and an important member of your family. However, this does not change the fact that every year, countless dogs end up in animal shelters and eke out an existence there from then on.
Sometimes the animals are simply abandoned or no one wants to take care of them after the death of their owner. Regardless of the exact reasons, the sudden stay in the shelter is of course always an enormous psychological burden for dogs.
If you are currently planning to buy a dog, a shelter dog might be a good alternative to buying a puppy. After all, this way you can give a lonely four-legged friend a second chance. In the following, we will explain how the adoption of a shelter dog works and what you should bear in mind.
Even though many people find it hard to believe, animal shelters in Germany are full of surrendered pets. The German Animal Welfare Association estimates that about 300,000 dogs and other animals have to be taken in by animal shelters every year.
Possible reasons why keepers decide to take this step include underestimated care requirements, unexpectedly high keeping costs or simply being overwhelmed.
Apart from that, it can of course always happen that owners suddenly develop an animal allergy or can no longer take care of their animal roommate due to a serious illness.
As you can see, there are many reasons why dogs are surrendered to the shelter. The decision cannot always be blamed on the former owner. Regardless of this, such an experience is very painful for every four-legged friend. After all, they don't know why they have been torn away from their familiar surroundings and practically left to fend for themselves overnight.
Because even though the mostly volunteer staff at the shelter naturally do their best day after day, they cannot give every dog the same amount of attention as a real family.
Therefore, as tempting as the acquisition of a cute little puppy from the breeder may be, taking in a shelter dog is a commendable decision. In any case, you can be sure that the animal will be grateful to you for the rest of its life.
A dog is expensive and a lot of work. You have to take care of the four-legged friend every day, ensure that it is fed according to its needs and sometimes expect quite expensive visits to the vet. Therefore, do not make your decision to take in a shelter dog lightly and be aware of the consequences involved.
To find out whether your plan is a good idea, you should first consider whether you can bear the costs involved in keeping a dog and whether you can devote enough time to caring for the animal permanently. You should also clarify in advance whether a person in your household suffers from an animal allergy.
Last but not least, you should also honestly consider which dog breed is suitable for you. There are some breeds that beginners should stay away from. This is especially true if the animal comes from a shelter and handling it, therefore, requires special sensitivity.
Animal shelters naturally have a great interest in ensuring that the dogs they place find a loving home permanently. For this reason, you cannot simply drop by and take a dog or another animal without first allowing the shelter to check your suitability as an owner.
Before the shelter will consider you as the new owner of a dog fostered there, you must first fill out a questionnaire. Among other things, you have to answer questions about your living situation and your previous experience as a dog owner.
In the next step, you can get to know your four-legged friend and spend some time with them. This is important so that the dog can get used to you and you can find out whether there is harmony between you. If this is the case, it may very well be that a member of the shelter staff would like to have a look at the dog's future home before the actual handover and will make an appointment with you for this purpose.
When you have finally decided to adopt a certain dog and the shelter believes that you are a suitable owner, a protection contract is drawn up. All important rights and obligations are regulated in this contract.
In addition, you have to pay the shelter a so-called protection fee, which is usually between 200 and 300 euros. On the one hand, this serves as a small financial support and on the other hand, it is intended to ensure that you have not made a hasty decision.
If in your deliberations, you conclude that adopting a dog is not feasible at the moment, you can of course still support the shelter.
Maybe you would like to walk some of the shelter dogs once a week. You can also donate a little money or a bag of dog food from time to time. This way you can contribute to the care of the four-legged friends at the shelter without much effort.
Bellfor offers you everything you need for feeding your new four-legged friend in a species-appropriate way. To avoid additional stress during the acclimatisation phase, we recommend that you keep the food you are used to from the shelter at the beginning.
Once your dog has settled in, you can gradually switch to Bellfor dog food and feed your four-legged friend a healthy and balanced diet with our wet and dry food as well as our delicious dog snacks.
In addition to treats and snacks, you will also find various natural food supplements. For nervous and stressed dogs, for example, we offer Bellfor Immune and Shiimun Calm.
Adopting a shelter dog is without a doubt a good alternative to the classic puppy purchase. After all, this way you can give a lonely four-legged friend a loving home and a new chance at a nice dog's life.
Therefore, you should at least think about whether this option is right for you. Your new roommate will thank you and, with a little patience, will soon become a loyal friend that you will not want to miss.
If you have decided to get a dog, you can of course go to a breeder. Apart from that, dogs from animal shelters or from abroad are also an option. The latter possibility i..
