A Tale to Tell

It is our holiday pleasure to tell you about A Tale to Tell, an organization that works tirelessly to rescue dogs from puppy mills in rural Pennsylvania and other states. Learn how the Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation financial award helped Ava and Maryann, two unfortunate dogs who never walked on grass, drank or ate from a bowl, played with a toy or had a bed to call their own. Read the latest news now …

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My beautiful Katie Girl

Mastering Uncertainty: Learning from Senior Dogs

People for always say that with age comes wisdom. November marks Adopt a Senior Pet Month, an initiative celebrated by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Petfinder.com. Below, you will find links to articles about Senior dogs, their healthcare, and tips to make the aging process as graceful as possible.

A “holiday” like this naturally makes me think of Daddy. He had a calling in life and he served his life’s purpose, helping me bring balance to countless dogs and being my right hand man through so many highs and lows.

Read the whole newsletter from Cesar Millan right here!

So you’re thinking about adopting a dog (as an aside from the writer to you, I’m also seriously considering adopting sometime soon). Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, the buying online without process can be a stressful one, as finding a new long-term friend is hardly a walk in the park! However, if you don’t lose your head, and keep a few simple tips in mind, finding that new buddy can also be one of the most fulfilling moments you can experience.

Once you have made the decision to adopt a dog, the first (and arguably the most important) step is finding the right shelter. Dog adoption centers come in many varieties, from small, locally-run refuges to large-scale establishments run by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Choosing based on the size or operation of a facility is entirely up to you and your priorities (for example, you might prefer to adopt from a no-kill shelter, which do not practice euthanasia), but your primary concern should be selecting a dog adoption center that is run by an experienced staff, and which commands a good reputation within the rescue community, and the pet-owner’s community as a whole. Ask for recommendations and check for reviews online whenever possible. Ultimately, regardless of how thorough you are, you will never be able to spend enough time with a dog pre-adoption to truly get to know him/her, and information received from dog adoption centers will make all the difference in choosing whether or not a pooch is right for you.

After selecting a shelter to adopt from, the next step is finding a kind, experienced person to help guide you through the process. Even if you are an experienced dog owner, the staff at a shelter will have spent far more time around the animals staying there, and most dog adoption centers will have well-trained staff available to assist you. Ask as many questions as possible, about the availability of dogs at the facility, the right kind of dog to suit your particular lifestyle, and the adoption process itself. Staff members will be there specifically because they enjoy pairing dogs with loving homes, so don’t be shy!

Once you have found a dog adoption center, and an appropriate individual to help you, the task of picking a new friend can begin. Once again, selecting an animal who is compatible with your lifestyle is paramount: large dogs that require room to run and play should not be kept in a restrictive environment, such as an apartment, and brachycephalic dogs, such as pugs and bulldogs, should not be selected if you plan on traveling a great deal with your pet, due to the increased risk high altitudes pose to such breeds. Ultimately, what any animal in a dog adoption center needs most is a loving home, but knowing the details associated with certain breeds can help you ensure that your new friend is both healthy and happy there.

At this point, upon selecting a dog to adopt, you might find yourself overcome with excitement, and an anxiousness to take your new pooch home. Be sure to take a minute to pause however, as the final steps in proper dog adoption are some of the most important. Confirm that all of the necessary paperwork has been filled out, that your dog is up-to-date on all vaccines and, and if you do not plan on him/her breeding or do not think yourself capable of handling a litter of puppies, that your new dog is spayed/neutered. Most dog adoption centers will be more than happy to help you out with such details, and certain larger facilities may even be equipped to take care of all three issues in the same building!

Finally, once all of the necessary tasks have been attended to at the shelter, make sure that your own home is ready to receive your new friend: make sure that bowls, toys, food and any other items are already stocked, and that any necessary barriers or passageways, such as fences or doggy doors, have already been set up. Paying attention to all these steps, and understanding exactly what you are looking for in the dog you choose, will bring you a long way towards adopting the right animal for you, and to advancing the health and happiness of both you and your new-found buddy.

Doug Pierce would never buy a pup from a breeder and considers dog adoption centers the best way to make a difference in a dog’s life

October is Adopt-a-Dog Month! Over the past few weeks, I’ve been providing you with my best tips and advice to prepare you to step up as the pack leader from day one if you decide to adopt this month. Choosing a dog is a decision that should be made with care and deliberation. A dog is not a toy or a clothing accessory; it’s a living creature. Too often, a dog is adopted because it is “cute” or “fashionable” rather than based on the merits of its behavior and energy levels. When selecting a dog, it is vitally important to take into account how that dog’s energy will harmonize with your own.

how much should i take target=”_blank”>Read more from Cesar on how to be prepared to adopt here.