Adopting a Dog by The Rescue Runway

Adopting a Dog by The Rescue Runway

When I started blogging, I really had no clue how much I would love it, and boy oh boy, I love it. As I enter month four, I’ll let you in on a little secret about what I love the most….the other bloggers! I have met so many amazing and supportive women who I am able to call friends. Today, I will be featuring one of them in my Friend’s Edition (suspense builds).

Meet Christine, A.K.A, The Rescue Runway. She is all about the leashes and lace (her words). Essentially, she is a fashion blogger with a mission that is dear to my heart. She works with local shelters to spread the word on the importance of “adopt don’t shop”; showing off her incredible fashion sense, while showcasing pets that are looking for their FURever homes. I simply adore her and love what she is out their doing for these canines and felines. You can also find her featured on Lauren Conrad’s website and in the Chicago Tribune. To sum it all up, she and all her furry friends are PAWSatively perfect, hence why I asked her to write a post for me on adopting man’s best friend.

If you are thinking about adopting a dog (please always adopt when you can), Christine will walk you through the five questions to ask yourself when making this important decision.

The Rescue Runway

So you want to add a dog to your household… I couldn’t be more excited for you (unless of course, I could babysit said dog). Getting ready to add a furry member to your family can be one of the most exciting times but with so many dogs looking for a home, it can be tough to know where to start. Luckily, finding the perfect pup for you can be as easy as making a list and checking it twice…and then heading out to your local shelter.

There are five questions I ask people to consider when they are adopting a pet. First, what is your schedule like? If you are busy and have a strict schedule, it would be best to consider an adult dog instead of a puppy, as puppies need training and to be let outside every few hours. Next, do you have any other pets or children in the home? This can be a huge factor in finding a dog that fits in well with your environment as some dogs enjoy being the center of your attention and siblings (two or four-legged) just won’t do.

Are you into Netflix and Chill? If so, a senior dog or a dog with a low activity level would be perfect. I don’t know why people like to run, but if you’re into that, there’s a young dog that would be into that too. Also, this might be a bit personal and we’ve only just met, but what is your financial situation? Some dogs can cost more than others due to health issues, size, and maintenance costs. A large, hairy, older dog might cost more than its junior counterparts and that is definitely worth considering.

Lastly, and this is the most important question of them all, do you promise to cherish and love your dog forever? It might sound silly, but dogs get surrendered and returned to shelters for many preventable reasons. While there are certainly exceptions, you should understand you are making a commitment when adopting a new pet.

Once you’ve answered the above questions, hop in your car and head to your nearest shelter. If you’re in Chicago (like me!) I recommend the Anti-Cruelty Society, ALIVE Rescue, and Heartland Animal Shelter. Each of these organizations has such amazing staff who are committed to finding all the animals homes. They will be your best resource and can help you find your perfect pup as long as you know what you’re looking for!

There are also many breed-specific rescues in Chicago and across the US. If you are looking for a certain type of dog, simply search for that breed on Petfinder.com and you’ll see all the local dogs matching your criteria. It’s like a matchmaking site for pets but no awkward first dates… it’s a win/win.

It’s so important to consider adoption when adding a new furry companion to your pack. Millions of animals enter the shelters each year and sadly, approximately 1.5 million are euthanized simply due to overcrowded shelters and not enough homes. When you adopt a dog, you really are saving two lives…the dog you adopt and the dog that gets to take his spot in the shelter system. I’ve worked and volunteered in shelters long enough to know how adoption really works…. in the end, the dog rescues you.

-Christine