Shelter adoptee pups need special attention but return lots of love

When our daughter decided she’d adopt a dog from a shelter, the trick was to find a dog that was right for her lifestyle. For one thing, her condo is big enough for our daughter and her roomie, but not big enough for a large breed like a retriever. She visited different shelters—she had volunteered for one in our area—and as soon as she met Bandit, she knew he was the dog for her. She went into the arrangement with eyes wide open. Her work with foster kids prepared her well.

Bandit is an active, loving pup who has to be handled with care at times. We think he experienced cruelty, maybe at the hands of a male, because he takes to females quicker than to men. At first, he needed some special medical care, but a few trips to the vet got him in good shape fairly quickly. He has to be handled gently, without sudden motion. He is better around adults than kids, not because he is dangerous, but because when he gets happy and excited he likes to jump up and down using your body as a springboard. He loves other dogs—our hound has a great time playing with Bandit.

When she first brought him home, she focused on setting a routine. This helped a lot with housebreaking and teaching him he could trust people. He was a few months old when our daughter had to go out of town, so we kept him for her to avoid having to kennel him. He was already used to being here when she comes to visit us, and he loves being able to run around our backyard since he has to get his exercise on a leash at his own home. Our daughter realized an immediate benefit—walking her active dog keeps her in shape. She’s also met lots of new friends who have dogs at her complex.

There are so many animals in need of a loving home. If you’re thinking about getting a pet, consider visiting your shelter. Bear in mind these dogs may often need extra care and attention. Often shelter dogs have been abandoned; sometimes they’ve been abused. Patience is required with any animal, but shelter animals may need a little more. If you do get lucky enough to find yourself a “Bandit,” at an animal shelter, you’ll be rewarded with love, loyalty and devotion. Bandit has become part of our extended family. We can’t imagine life without him. He’s our special shelter adoptee and our life is richer for having him. The Humane Society and Pet Finder are great sites for more information about how to deal with adopting an animal from a shelter. (Filed by Kay B. Day)

(Photo: Jen with Bandit. For a closer look at Bandit, click the American Critters link at right.)