Adoption is a wonderful way to add a dog to your family..
There is no reason to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a canine companion when so many deserving dogs wait to be adopted. Puppies found in pet stores usually come from puppy mills, and puppy mill dogs are notorious for having insurmountable problems. Getting a puppy for little or no money is not difficult, even if you are hoping for a purebred puppy and even easier if you don't mind an all-American mixed breed or hybrid puppy.
Instructions
1. Contact your local shelter. Shelters frequently take in puppies and may be willing to adopt one to you free of charge, especially if the shelter is overpopulated. If your local rescue organization does not have the type of puppy you are looking for, ask to be put on a waiting list. If you have the time, volunteer to be a foster parent for neonatal puppies. These are puppies who are too young to be adopted out or who have lost their mother and may need care and feeding until they are eight weeks old -- the legal age at which puppies can be adopted. If you are a foster volunteer, you will have the pick of the litters you help raise.
2. Check online resources, such as your local newspaper, Petfinder.Org or Craigslist. These sites connect those who have animals in need of homes with those who have homes to offer. Many "free to good home" ads for puppies waiting for homes. Upon contacting the person who has the puppy, ask questions about the puppy's parents' temperaments and sizes, if known. Ask about the puppy's weight and age, and if the puppy has any health issues. Inquire as to any deworming or vaccinations that have been administered or will need follow up. Learn all you can about the puppy's feeding, sleeping and elimination habits. Be prepared to answer questions about your family. Responsible agencies or individuals with puppies for adoption want to ensure a puppy is going to a good home with a family that is a good fit. You will most likely be asked to sign a contract attesting to your dedication to the well-being of the puppy throughout his life.
3. Let your relationship grow slowly.
Notify your friends and family via email and social media sites that you are searching for a puppy to adopt. Tell everyone with whom you speak to spread the word about your desire to adopt a free puppy. This will most likely yield good results as there are always puppies needing homes and not enough homes for all the animals that have been surrendered to shelters for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with the puppy's personality or temperament. Watch for signs on bulletin boards at locations you frequent such as community parks, grocery stores and gyms. Many times, people whose dogs have given birth find themselves "stuck" with a litter of puppies they did not anticipate and are now searching for homes for the puppies.
4. Look for specific breed rescue organizations such as Poodle Rescue, German Shepherd Rescue and so on. If you are looking for a particular breed, or a mix of several breeds, you will be able to find a rescue group dedicated to that breed. Many times, these clubs are comprised of breeders who have puppies that are not "show quality," so the breeder cannot or will not keep the puppy. Instead, they have the puppies sterilized and adopt them out to suitable homes. Another way to get a free puppy from a breeder is on "breeder's terms." This means you are willing to take and raise the puppy but agree to make the puppy available for stud services if it is a male, or giving birth to a litter if it is a female. The puppy is yours to keep, but there are considerations in the contract to which you must agree. Breeder's terms differ with each breeder, of course, but you may be able to find a free puppy by asking the breeders what they are willing to do for you.
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