How to own a dog
How I did it: First, I set a money-saving goal. I knew that owning a dog would be expensive, so I set a budget and determined that I would not adopt a dog until I had saved enough to care for the first entire year of her life at once. During those months, I began performing research on breeds, food, supplies, and lifestyle changes that would all become part of my life after I adopted. Once I had enough money saved up, I began searching every day for the right dog for me (mostly through ads on Petfinder.com). I found a great dog through the Red Collar Rescue of Houston, TX and contacted the rescue organization's president to see about meeting him. She said that the dog would be at an adoption fair they were holding. When I went to meet him face-to-face, I brought my friend's big lab along to see how the new pup interacted with him. I was surprised to find that the dog was extremely growly with the lab--and every other dog bigger than himself. I knew this wasn't a great sign, so I looked around at the dogs at the adoption fair a bit more. That's when I found Gabby. She was sitting in the next kennel with a peculiarly cocked head (I later found out it's a permanent head cock left over from some previous injuries--and it's adorable!) and a white blur of a tail. We bonded immediately and, after she got along well with the lab, I asked if I could take her home for a week's trial period. It went great; she only had one accident in the house, learned commands swiftly, walked on a leash beautifully, never barked, and was extremely affectionate. At the end of the week, I officially adopted her, and I have loved every minute with her since.
Lessons & tips:
- To know what you're getting into, do LOTS of research!
- Make sure you can afford a dog
- Ensure that your lifestyle can handle the time commitment of a dog
- Have a place for your dog to get exercise- whether in your yard or at a nearby dog park. Ideally, it should be within easy walking distance of your home.
- If possible, bring a dog you know with you to meet your prospective dog to see how they get along.
- If possible, bring the prospective dog home for a trial period of at least a week.
Resources:
Dog Breed Information
Cost of Owning a Dog
Dog Food Analysis
Petfinder.com
Red Collar Rescue (the rescue organization I used)
