There’s no doubt that being around a dog can lower people’s stress. They may even be able to help people decrease their blood pressure and reduce their risk of heart attack.
Having a dog can decrease stress in other ways too. Dogs encourage people to get out and exercise because they need to be walked daily. They can help people connect with other dog-lovers, even working as matchmakers.
Why Should You Consider a Shelter Dog?
Here’s why you should think about adopting a shelter dog:
- When you adopt a shelter dog, you may very well be saving a life. Some shelters must euthanize dogs that haven’t been adopted after some period of time because they don’t have enough room for all the homeless dogs they get.
- Every time a shelter dog is adopted, it helps ease the epidemic of unwanted and homeless dogs in America.
- When you adopt an adult shelter dog, there won’t be any wondering how big he will be, and you’ll also be able to see his personality.
- Adopting a dog from a shelter almost always costs less than getting one from a breeder or private owner. You might need to pay the costs of vaccines and spay or neuter surgery, or those things might already be done by the shelter.
- Adopting a shelter dog helps fight against puppy mills, which are horrible places where dogs are usually kept in too-small cages, not given quality food or good veterinary care, and are often kept as breeding animals until they are no longer able to do so.
- When you adopt an adult dog from a shelter, he is often already house-trained. That can significantly reduce any stress associated with having a new dog in your home.
- Shelter dogs are often super loving because they know that you’ve rescued them. They know what it’s like to live without a permanent home, and they truly appreciate having one with you.
If you’re interested in adopting a shelter dog, you can start here: The Shelter Pet Project. This website allows you to enter your area and search for adoptable dogs in shelters near you.