Divorce in a family, allergic reactions to a dog in the household, irritating behavior on the dog’s part, and all the other reasons dogs are discarded explain why they end up viewing the world through the barred cages of an animal shelter or pound. Most of the dogs in shelters were given up by their owners, but others were reported running loose or lost. Picked up by a local government agency such as Animal Control, they were brought to the shelter to await owners who often don’t bother to claim them. A few of the dogs lived horrendous lives and were deposited at the shelter by local authorities as neglect or abuse cases.

You won’t have to look far to find plenty of destitute dogs. Animal shelters and humane organizations have them in all sizes, shapes, and ages. Some will be purebreds, but most will have mixed ancestry. Does it matter? Usually not. So why do so many puppy buyers prefer purebreds?

Purebred or Mixed-Breed?

One of the main advantages of acquiring a purebred puppy is that you have a clear picture of how the dog will look as a grown-up, including its size and coat type. But that reasoning doesn’t apply here. You are adopting an adult dog, so what you see is what you get. In time, your loving care will round off the rough edges, brighten the eyes, and give gloss to the coat. But for now, the basic animal is already visible.

Another advantage of acquiring a purebred is that certain breeds hunt, others herd, and still others are born ratters. You may get a mix that can hunt, herd, or keep mice out of your basement, but don’t count on appearances. For example, a mix that looks like a retriever or a spaniel may have no hunting dog ancestors at all.

People who want to show their dog will seek registered purebreds because they can compete in American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) dog events. But if you fall for a mix, you can still compete in a variety of activities through AMBOR. the American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry. In addition, mixed-breds registered with AMBOR are welcome in UKC Obedience, Agility, and Hunting Retriever events.

So, should you search for a purebred or will a mix make you just as happy? It depends on why you want a dog. If companionship and fun are the major reasons, by all means consider a mix. A dog doesn’t need “papers” to be your best buddy.

Shelters and Such

Try to be tough-minded when visiting animal shelters and humane facilities. Yes, it’s true that unadopted animals will be euthanized in many shelters. But thousands of animals await their fate in these institutions. You can’t save them all, so take your time and take along your “Dream Dog Check List.” Then save the dog that’s right for you and your family; one whose chemistry attracts all of you. Making the right match brings joy to everyone. You, your family, the dog, and even the shelter workers.

Shelter Employees and Volunteers

Most shelter workers adore animals. That’s why they work at institutions for unwanted pets. It’s obvious they don’t apply for the job because it pays well, or because the work is easy. It doesn’t and it isn’t. Idealistic at first, the workers want to make a difference, make the animals more comfortable, help people find the right pet, and feel good because they made the world a little bit better for pets and people.

So what happened? You’re asking questions about a charming dog and getting short, impersonal answers—not the outpouring of details you hoped for. Why, the young shelter worker doesn’t even seem to notice how cute that spotted dog with the perky ears is. Doesn’t she care if it gets a home?

What happened is that the young woman probably cared too much when she started working at the shelter. No doubt she already adopted all the dogs she can support. Still, she fussed over special favorites, calling them pet names and bringing them treats. But the animals kept arriving much faster than they were adopted, and many of her special friends were euthanized. Some were adopted, of course, and that gave her joy, only to double her heartbreak when a few of them were picked up running loose, or confiscated as abuse cases, and brought back to the institution. And so many people who appeared to mean well returned pets instead of training them that gradually she lost some of her high hopes, as well as a lot of her faith in people’s promises.

She’s numb now. She has to be, or working at the shelter would destroy her. So she feeds the animals, keeps their kennels clean, gives them the benefit of her kind voice and gentle hands, but doesn’t dare get too involved with pets or people. She’ll tell you what she knows about the spoiled dog you keep coming back to, but she may not know much since she learned to distance herself from doomed relationships. If there is space, and it’s not against shelter policy, she’ll let you “Ask the Dog” (see Other Ways of Finding a Dynamite Dog). Take along treats, a toy, an adjustable collar, and a lead, so you’ll be ready. It may be up to you to find out if the soulful face peering out from the chain-link cage is an undiscovered dream dog, or every dog owner’s worst nightmare.

Prices and Policies

Prices and policies vary among animal shelters and humane societies. Some take care of vaccinations, spaying, and neutering, and any other necessary treatment before offering an animal for adoption, and add those costs to the adoption fee. Others encourage spaying and neutering by charging a higher fee for an intact pet and rebating a portion of it when shown proof that the animal was spayed or neutered within a given time period. Shelters incur many expenses, so don’t expect to get a dog for free. When you visit a shelter, ask about prices and policies before you enter the kennel area. Then you will know if you can afford to fall in love.

PUREBRED RESCUE, CLASSIFIEDS ADS, AND BREEDERS

Destitute dogs and dynamite dogs often come from the same places. A dog may be in purebred rescue because it was starved, neglected, or abused. The pet in the classified ad may have been chained behind the garage for years with no human companionship. The breeder may be bottom rung instead of top-notch, and keep dogs in filthy cages, breeding them every season until they are too weak or too ill to raise a litter. (Real breeders call these disgraces “puppy mills.”) While the rescue volunteer will gladly tell you each dog’s history, the puppy-mill owner will tell you only what he or she thinks you want to hear, and the classified ad writer may or may not give you the whole truth. But you know how to find out for yourself—just ask the dog.

Is There a Destitute Dog in Your Backyard?

Does a glance out your kitchen window reveal your very own destitute dog? Perhaps he’s chained to a stake or pacing back and forth in a kennel run. Sure, Spot gets food and water and you’ve provided shade, but it has been months since he’s been brushed, walked, petted, or allowed inside the house. What do you feel when you look at him? Guilt? Regret? The emptiness of unfilled promises—yours and his?

Forget guilt, it doesn’t solve anything. Then get rid of regrets and fulfill those promises. Would you . . . could you . . . still love Spot if you could break him of his bad house habits? Yes. You can do it. Just give it one more try. Read more of our articles to find out how.

After reading our articles under "What New Dogs Need" and "Period of Adjustment", treat that lonely dog in your backyard as if you just acquired him today. Wipe the slate clean. It’s a second start for both of you. Begin by having Spot checked by a veterinarian to make sure he’s healthy and parasite-free. Bathe and groom him (or have it done professionally) so he looks, feels, and smells lovable. Then bring him inside for crate training and teach him basic commands like “Sit” and “Down.” You can even add a trick or two just for fun. Everything you need to know for your own successful second start is in these articles.

Have you already tried everything and nothing worked? Has the chemistry between you fizzled from too much frustration? Do you wish you had known more about matchmaking before you selected Spot? If you and Spot aren’t having any fun together, it’s useless to waste the next several years and the rest of your dog’s life. You and your dog both deserve a second start with more suitable partners. Our articles under "When You Have to Let Go" will help you place Spot in a good home and get on with it.

Did a Destitute Dog Find You?

Sometimes a destitute dog finds you. You don’t see him at first but you know something was out there because your garbage bag was ripped opened and your trash was scattered on your lawn. When it happens again you get angry and glance out the window occasionally, hoping to catch the culprit in the act. Is it a raccoon? Or is one of your neighbors letting their dog run loose? When you finally spy the trash bag burglar, your anger melts into pity.

The creature is gaunt with a sparse coat and dark, scared eyes. He sees you looking at him and slinks off, defeated. Haunted by his eyes, you decide to buy a little dog food and put it in a bowl at the end of the driveway. That will keep him out of the garbage, you tell yourself.

The next night you watch through the window as he gulps the dog food, then yell “No!” when he heads for the garbage anyway. He leaves in a hurry but you know he’ll return. And he does. Night after night. Soon you stand quietly while he eats his dog food—first watching from the window, then the porch, then the edge of the lawn, and finally within a few feet of him. By now you’ve named him in your mind and he is yours, even if you don’t know it yet. Soon he stays over, spending the night curled up on the old rug you just happened to toss into a corner on the porch. You move his bowl to just outside the door. Soon he looks a bit better. Not quite as skinny; not quite as scared.

Eventually this dog will trust you enough to take food from your hand. But don’t rush him. And above all, don’t corner him. Remember, he’s wild and frightened, and probably hasn’t been vaccinated against rabies.

Does he growl at you sometimes and bristle the hairs on his neck? He has problems you don’t need. Call Animal Control and let the professionals decide if he’s capable of becoming a companion animal. They’ll pick him up, take him to their shelter, and check him out.

Does he creep a little closer to you each day, sometimes even tentatively wagging his tucked tail? He wants your friendship, but his past makes him fear relationships with humans. Be patient. He’ll come around.

Taking food from your hand is the first big step. It won’t be long until he lets you touch him, then caress him. Eventually you’ll bribe him into the house. For his sake, and yours, have him examined and vaccinated by a veterinarian who makes house calls (he’s still too timid to handle a ride in the car and a busy waiting room). When the veterinarian fills out the paperwork with your name as owner, you’ve accepted responsibility for this dog’s —your dog’s— health and heart. Now the period of adjustment begins. And that’s a whole new chapter for both of you.