Although you can find the perfect companion at local shelters, getting a pet should never be an impulse decision. Careful research and planning are essential, since being responsible for the happiness and well being of your pet requires more than just providing adequate food, water, and shelter. Potential pet parents should consider and agree with the following points before adopting a dog:
1. ANIMALS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE!
- Dogs are thinking, feeling creatures. They bond deeply with their families, and they deserve the same devotion from you.
- Bringing a pet into your home should be a life-long commitment, which can easily be 10-15 years.
2. PROTECT YOUR PET'S HEALTH AND SAFETY
- Prepare for costs associated with basic and emergency veterinary care, quality food, and supplies.
- Don't be guilty of "dog storage" by leaving your dog in the back yard 24/7. Exercise your dog daily to make him your companion.
- Spay or neuter for long term health and happiness. This not only makes a better pet, but can also prevent certain types of cancer.
- Insure that your dog is properly identified with a tag, tattoo, or microchip. At a minimum always have your dog wear a collar with and ID tag.
- Obedience train your dog. Training helps you to better communicate with your dog, strengthens the bond between you, and insures that your pet will be a good canine citizen.
3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOUR HOME
- Consider apartment pet restrictions, space, and outside access if you are gone all day.
- Pay attention to allergies.
- If travel and job relocation is an issue for you, then it is also an issue for your pet. Your commitment means making arrangements to provide quality care while you're away, or to insure that the transition to your new home is as easy as possible for your pets.
- Some large dogs may be too strong or active for small children. Small dogs may be too delicate for active children.
- Sometimes puppies and children don't mix. All puppies chew and mouth. It is a by-product of teething. Careful supervision and education is essential. Nipping is also normal puppy behavior and should be discouraged, but should not be considered and aggressive behavior.
4. TEACH YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY ABOUT PETS
- Educate yourself about pet care before you adopt. Responsibilities such as feeding and bathing, cleaning up feces, and walking are all part of caring for your pet.
- Take some time to understand dog behavior and develop realistic expectations. Many books and videos are available on the subject.
5. MAKE SURE THE DOG YOU CHOOSE SUITS YOUR LIFESTYLE
- All dogs require daily exercise; however, active dogs require daily rigorous exercise, such as running or interaction with other dogs. If you are not up to the task, choose a dog with a calmer, less active temperament.
- Someone in the home should be designated the primary caretaker, so the pet's daily needs do not become lost in the shuffle of busy schedules.
Remember, careful thought and planning before adopting will spare the animal the stress of being returned, and will insure your pet and your family have a long and satisfying life together. If you are confident that you are ready for a four-legged member of your family try beginning your search on your dog page or if you have further questions or need more information please contact us.
Because of the difficult beginnings with which our animals have been faced, it is our goal to find them a happy ending. Not only do we not want them to end up back on the street, we want them to have the loving homes they so deserve. In order to provide this for these animals, our adoption process consists of several easy but thorough steps.
-If you're interested in an animal, we ask that you fill out a questionnaire, which we will review to ensure you and the dog you are interested in adopting are a perfect match!
-Once that match has been made, we'll do a home inspection and then a home delivery of the animal. Sometimes this can all take place within the same day, however it usually happens with a couple of days. This is due to the fact that we don't have enough volunteers to run adoptions and do home checks all at once!
-There is generally no waiting period. However, Canine Crusaders reserves the right to cancel the adoption process at any time if we feel that the home situation or adoptive family have been misrepresented, if all information was not given, or if we feel that perhaps the dog is a better match with another family.
-Now that your pet is anxiously awaiting its new family, a $250 donation is required for adult dogs and a $350 donation is required for puppies and pure-bred dogs! Also, you must sign the Adoption Agreement. The donation covers spaying/neutering, vaccinations to date, de-worming, de-fleaing, grooming, socialization, micro-chipping and room and board. The adoption fees goes to pay for all the other animals in our care, MANY of which come to us with injuries or medical conditions that require treatment. Canine Crusaders survives solely on adoption donations and it is for this reason that the adoption fees mentioned above are non-negotiable.
-When you adopt a Canine Crusaders pet your new family member will always be current on all vaccinations and of course be neutered or spayed.
-We offer a two-week grace period for all dogs, at which time you may receive a full refund of your money. For all puppies, 50% of the fee is refundable. Due to our lack of space and volunteers, we may need you to continue to foster the animal until we can find a suitable and loving replacement home. At no time may you sell your adopted pet, give him away to strangers, take him to the pound, give or sell him to research, or euthanize him for anything other than a terminal medical condition.
If you have any questions regarding our adoption policies, please feel free to call us at (310) 937-7949 or e-mail us at caninecrusaders@hotmail.com.