Why Adopt a Pet from a Shelter?

By adopting a pet from an animal shelter like The Lost Dogs' Home, you are giving an animal in need a much deserved second chance at life. This is a very positive thing to do and you will be rewarded with a deeply loyal and loving companion.

Please take some time to learn about the other reasons you should adopt from an animal shelter:

• Most dogs and cats at animal shelters are mixed breeds and as a general rule, mixed breeds are healthier and live longer than their pure-breed counterparts.

Why?

The simple answer is that these cross breeds possess ‘hybrid vigour’ which means that because their parents were not closely related, they are much less likely to have hereditary conditions and are generally far more robust than pure breed animals.

• Shelter cats and dogs already exist! They are not the outcomes of deliberate profit-driven breeding programs such as puppy mills or irresponsible backyard breeders.

• Unlike other sources for dogs and cats in Victoria such as small breeders, backyard breeders and puppy mills, animal shelters must comply with the Code of Practice for the Management of Dogs and Cats in Shelters and Pounds (1998). This involves maintaining high standards of management and care for their animals. All animal shelters are inspected at least annually by officers from the Victorian Bureau of Animal Welfare to make sure they comply with the Code of Practice. This Code is a component of the Victorian Domestic Animals Act 1994 which provides the legal framework for dog and cat management and ownership in Victoria.

• Animal shelters re-home dogs and cats of all ages and breed types so there is a far greater chance of adopting a pet that suits the prospective owners’ requirements.

• Shelter animals are assessed by shelter staff and veterinarians as having a suitable temperament for adoption.

• Shelter animals undergo a rigorous physical veterinary examination prior to adoption. Should treatable medical/surgical conditions be detected, they are rectified prior to adoption.

• Shelter animals are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped and wormed.

• A pet-to--owner matching program exists at all shelters.

• Information and education programs on responsible pet ownership are made available to new owners. At The Lost Dogs’ Home, pet adopters receive a comprehensive consultation about their new pet and its specific requirements.

• The Lost Dogs' Home provides a free dog training lessons for new owners.

• Shelter staff make themselves readily available to provide pre and post adoption advice to pet owners. This may even extend to home visits and referrals to veterinary and/or animal behaviour specialists.

• The Lost Dogs' Home provides ongoing veterinary services at reasonable fees. The medical history of your pet is generally well known by the veterinary staff at the shelter you adopt from.

• Shelter animals are very reasonably priced. The adoption fee barely covers the cost of de-sexing, vaccinating, worming and microchipping the animals prior to adoption.