Adding a new dog or cat to the family is an exciting and wonderful time. So many decisions to make — breed, size, temperament, indoor or outdoor, shedding vs non-shedding, allergy considerations, grooming maintenance requirements, home training or professional training, pet insurance, pet food or nutritionally balanced home cooked meals, and of course, to purchase from a reputable breeder or adopt. I understand that finding your perfect pet may lead you to purchasing but I would encourage you to consider adoption.
Many people do not realize that of the 6 to 8 million pets that end up in shelters every year, 25 percent of them are purebreds. If you know you want a purebred then you most likely know there is often a significant cost when buying from a reputable breeder. For example, a champion show line standard poodle can be between $2,000 and $3,000. Adopting through a shelter or breed-specific rescue will save you a considerable amount of money. Plus, the adoption fee (typically less than $300) should cover vaccinations, spay/neuter, dewormings, microchip, and veterinary visits up to date of adoption.
Many of these pets have been loved, trained, and housebroken and found there way to shelters and rescues through no fault of their own; two of the top reasons being landlord issues and moving. With so many great, family-ready pets available for adoption why would you not consider bringing one into your family. There are countless stories from families just like yours that chose to adopt and share the same experience of love, fun, and companionship.
For those that are ready to adopt, thinking about adoption, or on the fence I invite you to attend Pups n Pints dog adoption sponsored by Passionate Paws Animal Hospital and Engel & Volkers CG Group Realtors on June 4th from 1pm – 5pm at DreamChaser’s Brewery in Waxhaw. The event will feature the dogs and puppies of South Charlotte Dog Rescue, a volunteer 501(c)3 organization. This is a great event to learn more about the adoption process and have your questions answered. Please visit http://passionatepawsanimalhospital.com/pups-n-pints-adoption-event/ to learn more.
Grooming Tip of the Week
It is important to regularly check your dog’s paws to make sure they are not infected, or have a wound or foreign object stuck in or between their pads. If you take your dog for long walks or hikes, make sure a pebble or piece of glass has not entered their pad. If your dog has long hair that tends to matt, check between the toes to make sure there are no matts. Be mindful of hot pavements in the summer and rock salt in the winter that can burn paw pads. Rule of thumb – if you would not walk on it barefoot, your dog won’t either.
