5 Reasons to Get a Rescue Dog

There’s no wrong way to bring a dog into your family. The dog distribution system works in mysterious ways, and however your furry best friend bounds into your life—lap, backseat, bed, or backyard—is the right way. But when you’re ready for a new pup to join the pack, there’s a case to made for adopting a rescue dog. 

There are endless reasons to adopt a rescue dog. If you’ve ever spent time with a rescue, you know they’re impossibly cute and endlessly loyal, with the kind of endearing personality that can charm the meatballs right off your plate. If you haven’t, these five reasons to adopt a rescue dog offer a glimpse into what you’re missing—and will have you running to your local animal shelter faster than a speeding greyhound.

Reasons to adopt a dog from a shelter: 

1. When you rescue a dog, you’re a lifesaver. Literally. 

Every rescue dog has a unique story, but they all have one thing in common: Adoption is their only hope. Or in happier terms, their second chance at a forever home. Animal shelter adoptions give your one dog the second chance they’re waiting for, and lets another dog take their spot—and the spotlight on their Instagram account. That means you’re not just giving your new terrier/pit bull/golden the home they deserve, you’re also helping the next pup in line find their forever family faster.  

2. Rescue dogs vs. breeders. 

Rescue dogs often require less pressure and a lower price tag. Future you will be responsible for a lifetime of veterinary responsibility, but most shelters and rescue organizations, like Wags & Walks in Los Angeles and Nashville, cover essential vaccinations, microchipping, spaying and neutering, and initial vet visits. Plus, many rescue dogs are already housebroken, well trained, and know how to hang at the dog park. If you have plenty of time to care for a new dog, but not enough time to commit to obedience training and socialization, rescuing a dog that already knows the basics is a great way to go.  

3. A shelter or rescue can help you find the right fit for your family. 

Since an animal shelter or rescue organization will happily take your dog back if it doesn’t work out, they’re committed to helping you find the right dog for your family. Whether you’re looking for a specific type of dog, a stately mixed breed, or a know-it-when-you-feel-it connection, there’s a rescue ready to help—and they’re always upfront about the animal's history and behavior. If your kids are begging for a fancy labradoodle or a stately golden retriever, well, designer dogs need rescuing, too. There are rescue organizations dedicated to every kind of Rover, be it pitbull or pomeranian. 

Pro tip for hyperspecific dog people: If you have your heart set on a specific breed you can’t find through a local rescue, expand your internet and social media search to other areas. Organizations from San Francisco to South Korea have volunteers who will transport your rescue pup, so even if you can’t take a cross-country road trip to pick up your new schnauzer you can adopt from a rescue or animal shelter rather than a breeder or puppy mill.

4. Rescue dogs are the most grateful and loving.

Rescue dog personality is a thing. Dogs are surrendered to animal shelters for many different reasons. Sometimes they’re rescued from unsafe breeding conditions or traumatic environments and deserve an adopter with special experience, but just as often the “rescue” is an act of compassion. When a dog’s owner passes, a family has to move or experiences financial hardship, or physical limitations make care a dog deserves impossible, responsible animal lovers trust shelters and rescues to help. Animal shelter adoptions mean that your rescue dog will bound into your family with love, loyalty, and you might say, a new leash on life. 

5. You can take your future forever dog for a test spin.

If you’re rescue-curious but not ready to commit, get to know a few residents first. Volunteering at a local animal shelter or with a rescue doesn’t have to be a big commitment: It can be as simple as signing up to help walk adoptable dogs once a week or even just once a month. You’ll get to see the pups’ personality in action, your presence is a treat even if you don’t adopt, and the endorphin boost will last all weekend. Fostering is a great option—bring a dog or puppy home for a couple of weeks. And once you fall in love with each other, you’ll know it’s a fit. That’s what they lovingly call a “foster fail.”

Now the fun part. Once you adopt your shelter dog, you’ll need to help your rescue dog feel safe. That means preparing your home with all the essentials for newly adopted dogs–a comfortable collar, a sturdy leash, a cozy bed, and the snuggliest sweatshirt for your brisk morning walks. And toys! For your new rescue dog, all the toys…