How to Find a Puppy to Buy
- 1). Visit your local animal shelter to find a puppy that needs a new home. Every day thousands of puppies are brought to the shelter. Often, their owners can't afford to keep them or simply don't have the time. Other times, puppies are found as strays and are brought in by an Animal Control Officer or a private citizen. The Humane Society of the United States notes, "Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes." At some shelters vaccinations, deworming, and spays and neuters are included in the adoption fee. The adoption couselor will tell you whatever is known about the puppy's history. Don't get discouraged if you visit the shelter and they don't have what you are looking for. Shelters get in new animals every day.
- 2). Call and pay a visit to a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders will not sell their puppies to just anyone. They will want to make sure the puppy will be taken care of and have loving owners. Breeders who aren't reputable will sell puppies that might have a bad temperament or ailing health. According to the Humane Society of the United States, "A dog who has genetic health problems due to poor breeding practices or who develops significant behavior problems due to a lack of early socialization can cost thousands of dollars to treat and result in grief and heartache as well." Ask your veternarian or contact your local animal shelter for a list of reputable breeders.
- 3). Call a rescue group. Rescue groups are similar to animal shelters. They take in unwanted, abandoned, stray or abused animals and try to find them new homes. Their main focus is adopting out animals. Some rescue groups concentrate on a certain breed. If you are interested in a specific breed, a rescue group might be what you are looking for. Contact your local animal shelter for a list of rescue groups in your area.
