Cottage Grove sentinel., August 31, 2016, Page 8A, Image 8

8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL August 31, 2016
ALL ABOUT DOGS | BRINGING HOME AN ANIMAL
Choosing a Shelter Dog
A
shelter is a great place to find a dog that needs a loving home. These facilities usually
have dogs in a variety of ages, sizes, colors and breeds — and many of them are there because of
issues related to their owners rather than their own behavior or temperament.
I n the long run, dogs adopted from
shelters typically cost less than those
purchased or even acquired for free
because shelters generally take care of
vaccinations, spaying or neutering and
even microchipping.
Talk with your local shelter profes-
sionals to get a clear understanding
of costs and requirements for your
specifi c breed. Th ey will have all the
information you need to take your
new dog home with confi dence.
Dog Characteristics
Choosing the right dog can be tricky
in a shelter environment. Fortunately,
there are steps you can take to make
the process smoother. Many shelters
have websites with information on
some of the available dogs. Th is can
help you compare choices before even
stepping into a shelter, although face-
to-face interaction will likely be the
defi ning factor in your choice.
Shelters generally conduct thorough
behavioral analysis of each dog and
can give you important information on
why the dog is there, possible health
issues and personality traits they have
observed.
Th e key to leaving the shelter with the
right dog for your family is fi nding one
that fi ts your personality and lifestyle.
Some breeds need more exercising,
brushing and meals than others.
Be sure to weigh all possible factors
in terms of your free time and fi nan-
cial situation to make sure you can
adequately care for the dog.
The process of assessing
the dog’s suitability for your family and then making an educated decision requires maturity and
common sense — two important qualities you are trying to instill in your children.
Involving the Kids
If you have children at
home, choosing a shelter
dog can be one of the
fi rst important decisions
they help you make. Th e
process of assessing the
dog’s suitability for your
family and then making
an educated decision
requires maturity and
common sense — two
important qualities you
are trying to instill in
your children.
Sit down with them
while you perform
research on breeds.
Discuss pros and cons
of various breeds and
give them the freedom to
voice their opinion.
While the decision will likely come
down to your gut instinct and prefer-
ence, allowing your children to be
involved in the process can help them
with critical-thinking and decision-
making skills.
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Est. 1870
Small
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We’ve got it All!
South Lane County's largest selection
of Quality Dog Foods
(Plus cat food, chicken food Llama chow, pigeon chow
Wild bird food, hamster mix Koi food....)
Mon - Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 10am - 4pm
327 S. River Rd., C.G.
541-942-3042
All of these pets are looking for their forever home...
To fi nd our more about adopting these pets contact
the Greenhill Humane Society, SPCA
at 541-689-1503
OLD MILL FARM
STORE
541-942-3042
HEALTHY PET
541-343-3411
COTTAGE GROVE
SENTINEL
541-942-3325
COTTAGE GROVE
SENTINEL
541-942-3325
FORT ROCK
CONSTRUCTION
541-767-1611
COASTAL FARM &
SUPPLY
541-967-3450
COTTAGE GROVE
SENTINEL
541-942-3325
HEDGE CARTER
GUTTER SERVICE
541-942-3630
OLD MILL FARM
STORE
541-942-3042
FORT ROCK
CONSTRUCTION
541-767-1611
WILDLIFE SAFARI
541-679-6761
COTTAGE GROVE
SENTINEL
541-942-3325