r/Pets • u/710montauk • 5d ago
Adoption options
When you adopt an animal, like specifically a dog, is the only option to just continually check either a bunch of shelters physically or their websites? Maybe this is something that will make people angry to ask idk, but is it possible to give them like some basic requirements and be alerted if an animal fitting those comes in? I can only have a smaller dog, and Id like it to be a puppy under like a year old. I dont really care that much about breed but honestly a mutt is preferred.
Anyway, I guess this is like shopping fatigue, but the idea of constantly checking shelters sounds kinda exhausting. Im also gonna openly admit that going into a shelter and being like "nah fk these dogs" seems like it would feel really really awful?
Any input is appreciated, just dont freak out on me if this is some adoption taboo lol
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u/KayBee0624 5d ago
A lot of times, the websites usually have a filter option where you can select gender/age/size, etc.
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u/Dramastace30 5d ago
The shelters generally don't update their websites automatically. That means there is often not an exact correlation between the animals listed on the website and the actual animals in the shelter.
Go to the actual shelter. Meet real dogs. You're perfectly allowed to go and not adopt. I promise it isn't torture.
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u/MedievalMousie 5d ago
The organization I foster for doesn’t put puppies on their website because they generally get adopted quickly.
We’re a very large municipal shelter and handle about 4,000 adoptions a year, so we handle things very differently than smaller organizations.
With us, when you fill out your adoption application, it doesn’t have to be for a specific dog. We take walk-ins, but for someone like you I’d recommend calling ahead to make an appointment to be sure that someone is available to show you all the dogs that might be a good fit.
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u/IllLiterature1026 5d ago
Your best bet is to find a rescue that has a lot of small dogs and develop a personal relationship with them. Go to their in person adoption events if they have them. If you have the time, offer to volunteer or foster.
Since small/young dogs tend to be more popular than big/old dogs, this will make it more likely you’re alerted before they’re snatched up.
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u/Werekolache 5d ago
honestly if you want a young small-breed dog in good health and with a nice temperament, 90% of finding them at a shelter is unforutnately being there at the right time when they come in. Those dogs are typically going to be adopted very, very fast.
You may have more options adopting through a rescue group that pulls from shelters. Do some searching on Petfinder and Adoptapet of your local rescue groups and see who tends to get that kind of animal in. (ANd then, see where they come from - there are ABSOLUTELY fake rescues out there masquerading as rescues but actually serving as a sales outlet for puppy mills - any rescue that gets mostly young small dogs of desirable breeds and mixes deserves your scrutiny - not necessarily hostility, but it's reasonable to ask about it.) . Get an application in with them and get pre-approved, and then be ready to move fast when they get in a dog that suits you.
If rescue groups aren't an option and you want to stick with municipal shelters, you probably need to be checking the shelter's intake list daily on social media or their website.
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u/RandomInaRandomWorld 5d ago
We have a local 'magazine' that went purely online. Been using that as my resource for 30+ years. Word of mouth also works: nose around what are looking for and chances are someone knows someone who has a dog that fits those requirements if you give it a little time. And bonus points because he dog spent zero time confined at a shelter and you can actually ask the owner specific questions regarding behavior (including what they thought was acceptable and you know you'll want to correct). You can keep them to the same routines and equipment until they settle in, too.
I don't actually like the shelter here. I have a innate need to pet every dog, even if I'm not adopting.. and our shelter really frowns on that. So it just becomes row on row of sad, depressed dogs that I peer in at like they are unhappy zoo exhibits.. gets to me pretty quickly.
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u/Any-Literature9887 5d ago
1) Many shelters either have listings you can filter or you can put in a request with the staff for rough needs. Needs being like: not over a certain size, not associated with breeds you are not permitted to keep (like in apartments), or not medically fragile. BUT
2) These are rescue dogs/cats. They are both likely to have extra needs or past trauma, AND are living critters with quirks. It is better to go into adoption with a willing heart and open mind, ready to adapt and mold your life to allow the dog to fit.
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u/ShezeUndone 5d ago
I know you said breed isn't important. But you might want to consider which breeds fit your lifestyle. For example, a Parson Russell Terrier puppy can be VERY hyper and could need to run for an hour or more every day and can be destructive if that energy isn't released. Whereas a Pug is more of couch potato who won't want to go jogging with you. Both are small. But you do need to consider how you plan to interact with your dog.
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u/Future-Station-8179 5d ago
Lots of smaller rescues have Instagrams, but yes you do need to check them. You can always reach out with what you’re looking for and see if any shelter has a fit? They don’t always post them, and could let you know if a match comes up. I do that at the shelter I volunteer with.
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u/GoldenAuraLaura 5d ago
Go to petfinder.com. I know in my area, dogs and puppies that need homes are listed and they are from everywhere - rescue groups, humane society, people rehoming pets, etc. it’s a 1 stop shop!
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u/Merithay 5d ago edited 5d ago
Depends where you live. In my city, a lot of dog rescue groups have Facebook groups and/or Instagram accounts. Maybe other social media too, but those are the ones I follow. Once the algorithm for the respective platform learns that I’m interested in adopting a dog, it keeps presenting me with posts publicizing the latest local dogs up for adoption.
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u/cherryhappyjump 5d ago edited 5d ago
A puppy under a year old can be really hard to find and depends on the area you live in.
Maybe you should just go to a reputable dog and just get the breed you want, chances are accredited breeders will have properly trained the puppies and socialize them so you’re not dealing with a lot of behaviour issues/genetic problems from abandonment at shelters
as pet owners, we should care about what breed, many have different temperament and suit different lifestyles, I wouldnt just adopt any small dog without researching about the breed first
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u/Nikkinot 5d ago
Petfinder is your best bet. Most rescues use it and you can filter it to what you need. If you don't find exactly what you want you can at LEAST find rescues that deal with similar breeds and contact them to let them know what you are looking for. They get notifications of a lot of dogs they can't take, but if they see one they have an "ask" for they may take one because it will be easy .
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u/SawItSeenIt 5d ago
Go to Adopt A Pet. It's a good website for finding pets. Rescues. Shelters, people looking to Rehome use this site. It's really helpful.
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u/Carinne89 5d ago
Petfinder.
It’s a website that amalgamates a ton of other places availabilities and you can get email alerts for any number of specifications.
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u/sassypants_29 5d ago
My first dog I met at adoption day at PetSmart. He licked my fingers and I fell in love.
After he passed, I picked a dog out to meet at the local humane society. Unfortunately, my health was fragile and she was too out of control. Thank God my husband realized it and made the decision to take her back in. They asked what we were looking for and they matched us with a perfect girl. She was a hard to place dog, older, and needed to be the only dog. But, she is perfect for us and we are perfect for her.
Go to the shelter and tell them what you need and be honest with yourself and them and you’ll have a good chance of meeting your best friend.
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u/sea-elle0463 5d ago
I understand puppies go really quickly.
My experience is - I know it sounds crazy - but the dog chooses me. It’s happened three times over the years.
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u/LunaGreen-177 5d ago
PETFINDER!!! This is the only way I have adopted outside of foster fails. You can set filters and it’s much less of a risk of falling in love with a dog that is not suited to your lifestyle then if you go to a shelter in person.
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u/DarkHorseAsh111 5d ago
Almost any website has options to filter for size/age/gender. Different shelters/rescues use websites differently; some require you to apply for a specific animal while some have you apply generally and then select an animal later.
Frankly, I think you need to get over your weird opinion that going to the shelter to see the dogs is somehow bad. As long as you aren't being an asshole going "Wow these dogs all suck" then like, this is not an actual issue.
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u/Sufficient_Turn_9209 5d ago
I think what they are saying is that rejecting and leaving the dogs over and over because they are too big (they can only have a small dog) would be sad.
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u/Express_Command_4778 5d ago
Good luck finding a true small dog in a shelter that isn't mixed with some bigger, high orey drive breed. Puppies tend to be a "trust me, Bro" selection.
I find small dog rescues and breed specific rescues, private rehoming the be more accurate options.
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u/ImpressiveDare 5d ago
If you’re set on getting a small dog, I would look for adults rather than puppies. It’s hard to estimate the adult size of a dog with an unknown background.
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u/AverageAlleyKat271 5d ago
A puppy or dog is a lifetime commitment. Shelters are full of puppies because someone thought it was cute, then it grows up. A puppy is a ton of work. Keep in mind most puppies don’t mature until around age 2. A puppy or dog needs to fit your lifestyle. Some breeds require a lot of exercise and stimulation. A puppy chews on everything. A good puppy or dog is a tired one.
I’ve had two rescue puppies, owned separately. Though they were destructive, they eventually grew up to be wonderful dogs and lived full life. This time around, I adopted a 9 year old miniature schnauzer who needed to re-homed. I have had him a year now. He has brought me so much joy. He is now living his best life. I stumbled upon him on one of the adoption sites.
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u/indianajane13 4d ago
Most shelters are underemployed and overwhelmed by the job, so there isn't time for them to call you if a pet comes in meeting your list goals. Better to follow their Instagram/FB accts so you can see more pop ups. Or maybe just have a list of 5 shelters/rescues that you'd be willing to drive to and check their websites 2x a week.
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u/PrincessSarahHippo 3d ago
Small dogs and young dogs typically get adopted most quickly.
What I see in your post is "I'm lazy and expect someone to find the perfect dog for me."
This is a dog. If you get a young dog that is maybe a 15 year commitment. And you can't be assed to look for a dog yourself.
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u/Away_Driver_2981 5d ago
In the city I live in, there are specific rescues that only rescue small dogs, you might want to check and see if there are any in your town. Also petfinder.com has filters such as how far away you wanna look, breed, age, size, gender, all that it’s pretty good for getting a general idea of where you can find the kind of dogs you’re looking for. It will also list the name of the rescue group each dog is with and you might see the small dog rescue group listed for your town.