Our adopted rescue dogs: Eleanor Rigby and Penny Lane.
If you are new to dog ownership, do your homework and choose the right type of dog for your lifestyle, handling experience and energy level.
To be on their best behavior, dogs need lots of exercise. Walks also train them to your leadership and they will be more obedient than dogs that just run around the backyard.
If this is your first dog, get an easy breed. If you are a couch potato, don't get a hunting breed or high energy dog. It is not fair to them. One of the reasons that animals end up in shelters is because of poor ownership habits and incorrect owner expectations, not bad dog habits.
Try to find the "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Milan on your cable TV. He's great....and can usually be found on the National Geographic Channel. Here's his web site link:http://www.cesarsway.com/
OK, go save a dog!
If you live in Fairfax County Virginia and you are thinking about getting a cat or dog, please consider adoption.
Our last three dogs have been adopted canines and they are awesome.
Visit the Fairfax County shelter off West Ox Road near Fair Oaks mall on a regular basis and you will find the right pet for you... it might not happen in one visit.
Some of the animals you will find there are too abused for a new pet owner or one with children to handle. Usually you can spot these animals right away.
One test I use before I ask the aides to let me meet the dog, is to simply see if the animal will come up to the front of its pen to meet me with a wagging tail.
If so, that is a very good first sign. Many dogs will stay huddled in a corner or stare indifferently or agressively...not a good sign for a successful adoption...sadly some animals have become too psychotic for most of us to handle.
The last two dogs we got and still have, were very neurotic from abuse, but we took them on since we are pretty experienced dog people.
It took one of them a year to trust us, but they are now both outstanding and entertaining pets. If you take your time and use common sense, you can get a great pet...REALLY CHEAP!
It is very affordable to adopt a pet in Fairfax County. I have seen some breeds there with dogs of good temperment that would easily cost you $700 if you purchased them from a breeder
- Dogs- $40.00
- Cats- $30.00
- Rabbits/ferrets- $15.00
- Reptiles/small birds- $10.00
- Other (hamsters,gerbils)- $5.00
- Equine/bovine- $200.00
- Livestock- $20.00
- Large birds- $100.00
You must pay to neuter any cat or dog you adopt...again ...a very reasonable expense.
- Virginia State Law mandates that all dogs and cats adopted from a shelter must be spayed/neutered.
- You are also responsible for paying 100 percent of the cost for spaying/neutering dogs and cats adopted from the shelter.
- A deposit for surgery is taken at the time of adoption, and the balance is paid directly to the veterinarian when the pet is picked up after surgery.
If you are looking for a particular breed and/or you cannot find the pet you want from the county shelter, here are some more places to check.
The two dogs in this post were adopted from: http://animalconnections.org/
http://www.petharbor.com/
Good Dog Rescue
Oldies but Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue
Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation
Humane Society of Fairfax County
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