Is Deciding to Spend a Lifetime with a Pet a Simple Decision?
Is deciding to spend your life with a furry companion a simple choice? Surely, this is not an easy decision to make! As the idea of adoption replacing purchasing pets becomes more widespread, more and more people are willing to raise pets by adopting them.
Adoption not only helps reduce the number of stray cats and dogs and provides them with a friendly and warm living environment, but it also thoroughly combats cruel and illegal breeding facilities.
This article compiles important details and information you must know when adopting a stray animal. It covers essential adoption knowledge such as preparation before adoption, eligibility conditions, procedures, precautions, and where to adopt dogs online or locally.
Let's work together to help all the lucky pet adopters who want to welcome a "fur friend" and continue to care for the happiness of stray dogs.
Is Adopting a Dog Free?
The answer is yes, adoption itself is free. However, the real responsibility of caring for and raising a pet is priceless and lasts a lifetime.
Preparing to Adopt a Dog
Important Considerations Before Adopting a Dog
Before adopting a dog, it is essential to ensure that you have the appropriate time, space, and financial capability to provide a suitable living environment, companionship, and care for your new pet.
Although dogs typically live for only a little over a decade, the responsibility of caring for them should be consistent and lifelong. It is important to consider the basic monthly expenses, which may include dog food, grooming, health supplements, toys, pet insurance, and potentially costly medical treatments. When all these costs are combined, the estimated annual expense of owning a dog can easily reach tens of thousands of New Taiwan Dollars or more. Beyond monetary costs, your love and companionship are invaluable and irreplaceable.
In addition, gaining the consent of other household members is a crucial consideration, as it helps prevent abandonment due to family disagreements. If your work schedule is very busy, you travel frequently, or cannot walk your dog daily, it is important that family members are able to assist with the dog's care.
If you live in a rented home, besides considering the size of the living space, you must also obtain your landlord's permission to keep a pet. This ensures that your dog will not live in an unstable or uncertain environment.
Choosing the Right Rescue Dog for Adoption
Deciding which rescue dog to adopt is an important choice. Regardless of who sees those adorable, fluffy little puppies, it's hard to resist their charm. That's why many people especially love adopting puppies. However, if you have no prior experience in dog care and no family members to help with looking after the dog, adopting an adult dog might be a more suitable option than adopting a puppy.
In fact, raising a puppy requires much more effort and attention. Besides monitoring their diet and medical needs, puppies tend to have less stable temperaments. They are prone to separation anxiety, accidents like urinating or defecating indoors, and chewing on things they shouldn't. Therefore, caring for a puppy demands a lot of patience and a significant time investment to train and guide their behavior properly.
Adult dogs, on the other hand, are generally more emotionally stable and often already house-trained, which can make them easier to care for, especially for first-time dog owners. While puppies bring endless energy and the joy of nurturing a dog from its earliest days, adult dogs offer a more predictable personality and require less intensive training and supervision.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your lifestyle, experience, and ability to commit time and patience. If you are new to dog ownership and lack support, adopting an adult dog is often recommended as a better fit.
How to Raise and Care for Adopted Dogs
Once you meet the basic requirements and complete the adoption process, you can successfully bring a stray dog home. However, knowing how to care for them in the days ahead is essential preparation for any dog owner.
For example, what foods should you avoid feeding small breed puppies? What preventive health care should you pay attention to when raising a large dog? How do you handle parasites on your dog? It is important to learn extensively about various aspects of dog care to help you become more confident and capable in looking after your furry friend. This knowledge will ensure that after bringing your dog home, you won't feel overwhelmed or unprepared.
Regarding adoption requirements, prospective owners must meet certain prerequisites such as age, financial capability, and a suitable living environment. Additionally, they should be prepared to accept ongoing long-term home visits to ensure the dog's well-being and proper care.
Key Considerations for Caring for Your Adopted Dog
- Dietary Restrictions: Avoid feeding puppies certain harmful foods and be mindful of nutritional needs specific to their size and age.
- Preventive Health Care: Regular veterinary visits, vaccinations, deworming, and parasite control are crucial, especially for larger dogs.
- Parasite Management: Learn how to identify and treat common parasites such as fleas and ticks to keep your dog healthy.
- Training and Socialization: Early and consistent training and socialization help prevent behavioral problems and build a strong bond.
- Safe Environment: Ensure your home is dog-proofed to prevent accidents and remove any hazards.
- Routine Establishment: Dogs thrive on predictable daily routines for feeding, exercise, and rest.
By thoroughly understanding these aspects, you will be better equipped to provide a loving and safe home for your adopted dog, ensuring a smooth transition and a happy life together.
Requirements and Procedures for Adopting a Dog
Many people who decide to adopt stray dogs instead of buying them often have one question: Is there a fee for adopting a dog? Basically, adopting a dog is usually free, but you must fully meet the basic requirements for adopting a stray dog. Otherwise, even if you are ready with all your love, you won't be approved.
Requirements for Adopting a Dog
Before adopting a dog, whether through an organization or a private individual, the adopter's eligibility to care for the dog will be carefully assessed. This initial screening is the first layer of protection for stray dogs and focuses on the following key criteria:
- The adopter must be at least 20 years old and have the support and consent of family members living in the same household.
- The adopter should have sufficient financial capability, a stable living environment, and enough space to properly accommodate the dog.
- The adopter must be patient and willing to invest time to understand and provide good care for the dog.
- The adopter agrees to have the dog spayed or neutered and to ensure the dog receives regular preventive vaccinations.
- The adopter must sign an adoption agreement and agree to follow-up visits and check-ins after adoption.
These conditions ensure that the dog will be placed in a responsible and caring home, promoting the welfare of the animal and reducing the risk of future abandonment or neglect.
6 Steps to Dog Adoption
Adopting a dog is a rewarding way to give a loving home to a stray animal. Here is a straightforward 6-step guide to the adoption process to help you prepare for welcoming your new furry family member.
Step 1: First Interaction with the Stray Dog
Begin by meeting and interacting with the dog to understand its personality and temperament. This initial contact helps you and the dog get familiar with each other.
Step 2: Complete Adoption Procedures On-Site or Online
You can either complete the adoption paperwork in person at the shelter or apply online to schedule an adoption appointment. This step initiates the formal process of adopting your chosen dog.
Step 3: Verification of New Owner's Identification and Assessment
The shelter will verify your identification and assess your suitability as a pet owner. This evaluation ensures that the dog will be placed in a safe and caring environment.
Step 4: Animal Health Check and Free Services
After a health examination, the dog will be microchipped at no cost, registered as a pet, and vaccinated against rabies. These measures protect both the dog and the community.
Step 5: Receive Adoption Consultation and Support Services
New owners will be provided with adoption advice and ongoing support to help with the transition and care of their new pet.
Step 6: Finalize Adoption and Bring Your New Friend Home
Complete the adoption formalities and take your new furry friend to their forever home, ready to start a happy life together.
Prepare your heart and home to adopt a stray dog, helping to ensure that no stray animal has to endure hunger or homelessness on the streets.
Important Things to Consider When Adopting a Dog
Understanding the Health Condition of Stray Dogs Before Adoption
Before adopting a stray dog, it is essential to proactively contact the shelter or visit in person to thoroughly understand the dog's health condition. Key details to inquire about include the dog's age, gender, whether it has been spayed or neutered, vaccination status, and any congenital or acquired illnesses. Typically, caregivers or those facilitating the adoption will provide honest and accurate information about these aspects.
If the dog has any existing health issues, it is advisable to ask the caregiver for specific care instructions and precautions to take. Additionally, prospective adopters should educate themselves on relevant care knowledge to ensure they can manage the dog's needs effectively and adapt quickly to their new companion.
Getting to Know Shelter Dogs Before Adoption
When considering adopting a shelter dog, it is essential to spend time interacting with the dog to become familiar with each other. Every dog has a unique personality and temperament. For example, young puppies and adult dogs tend to be more lively, playful, and energetic, while dogs over seven years old are generally much calmer and more composed.
If you encounter a dog with abundant energy, you will need to invest more time playing with them and taking them out for exercise to help expend that energy. Otherwise, be prepared for potential damage around the house caused by their restlessness.
Therefore, before adopting, it is advisable to have direct and frequent interactions with the shelter dog over a period of time to build mutual familiarity. Confirm that the dog's temperament, habits, activity level, and typical behaviors are all acceptable and manageable for you. Only then should you proceed with submitting an adoption application.
Reject and Report "Fake Adoptions"
The abundance of information on online social communities has greatly facilitated various channels for adopting stray animals. Many adopters connect with those offering pets through the internet to adopt dogs. While the convenience of online adoption significantly boosts adoption rates and offers a free and simpler process, it also conceals numerous adoption-related problems.
Among these issues, some unscrupulous individuals exploit the name of adoption to engage in monetary transactions. Others adopt dogs only to neglect or ignore them after bringing them home, and there have even been cases where adopted strays were subjected to animal abuse. These incidents highlight the critical importance of strict adoption procedures.
Rigorous adoption processes provide a protective effect akin to a butterfly effect, benefiting not only the adopters and those giving up animals but also the stray animals themselves. Although adopting dogs is generally free, sometimes when dealing directly with individuals, the person offering the pet may request that adopters share some costs such as food or medical expenses. If these requests are within a reasonable and acceptable range, they can be considered normal.
However, adopters should ask the provider for receipts when paying such expenses to ensure peace of mind. If the person offering the pet charges unexplained fees without justification, it may be an abuse of the adopter's goodwill for profit. In such cases, adopters can not only refuse payment but also report the incident to animal protection authorities to prevent others from being victimized.
Support Strict Adoption Procedures for Stray Animals
Adopting a stray animal is a wonderful act, but we hope that no more strays suffer abuse. Animal cruelty is not just cruelty to animals alone; it reflects deeper societal issues. The more people who prioritize animal protection, the more we can reduce tragic incidents.
In fact, places such as animal shelters for strays, animal protection organizations, stray animal associations, or foster homes with dedicated caretakers are the best choices for adopting animals. This does not mean that individual adoptions are problematic, but compared to that, volunteers in shelters who care for strays are experienced veterans with extensive caregiving knowledge.
They know how to care for puppies, abused dogs, and how to rehabilitate senior dogs, as well as perform neutering and vaccinations properly. New adopters without experience can always consult these volunteers if any issues arise after adoption.
At the same time, these institutions have strong support systems to ensure comprehensive protection for both adopters and the stray animals they adopt.
5 Ways to Adopt a Dog: Embracing a New Lifestyle with Pet Adoption
In recent years, especially during the pandemic, adopting pets has become a meaningful part of many people's new lifestyle at home. This includes adopting stray dogs and cats as beloved family members. Domestic and international adoption rates for cats and dogs have noticeably increased over the past two years, reflecting a significant shift in how people value their pets.
For many of us, our furry companions not only provide company but also help heal our fears of an uncertain future. However, as life gradually returns to normal, concerns about potential "pet abandonment" arise. The key to preventing this issue lies in ensuring prospective pet owners possess the right mindset and understanding before adopting.
Before bringing a pet home, it is crucial to carefully evaluate and consider whether you can truly take full responsibility for a living being. Due to ongoing pandemic impacts, many adoption centers have transitioned to online appointment systems that minimize physical contact. Despite this, it remains important to find time to meet and interact with the animals in person—no matter the distance, cherish the opportunity to connect.
It is recommended to choose an adoption method that suits your personal situation, starting with shelters or rescue centers closest to your home. This makes future visits or addressing any concerns more convenient. Temporary foster homes serve as strong support systems for stray dogs and cats, providing them with shelter until a permanent family is found.
By adopting thoughtfully and responsibly, we can create loving homes for these animals while enriching our own lives with companionship and healing.
Animal Shelters in Taiwan: Changing Perspectives on Stray Animals
In Taiwan, every county and city has established public animal shelters, commonly known as animal homes, to provide refuge for stray animals. Historically, public perception of these shelters has been quite negative. Many people believed that the stray cats and dogs housed there were aggressive, infested with parasites, or physically disabled, which discouraged them from considering adoption from these public facilities.
However, the reality of stray dogs in shelters today is very different from these outdated assumptions. Thanks to continuous amendments to the Animal Protection Act, the conditions in shelters have improved dramatically. The living environments, staffing, and medical resources have all been comprehensively upgraded. Behavioral training for the animals, including both puppies and adult dogs, is now routinely provided, alleviating concerns about behavioral issues after adoption.
Since the implementation of the zero-euthanasia policy, shelters have seen an increase in the population of older stray dogs who often wait a long time to be adopted. Although these senior dogs face age-related disadvantages, they tend to be more docile and gentle compared to younger strays. Caring for older dogs generally requires less effort than caring for young, energetic ones.
These advancements reflect a broader shift in Taiwan's approach to animal welfare, emphasizing humane treatment and better chances for strays to find loving homes. Public shelters now strive not only to house stray animals but also to prepare them for successful adoption through improved care and training.
National Animal Shelter System: Adoption instead of purchasing is the most compassionate goal for stray animals.
Rescue Animal Shelters and Cafés: Lang Lang Foster Home, Lang Lang Don't Cry and Xiwang Coffee
Lang Lang Foster Home
Lang Lang Foster Home is a dedicated group of people who combine their efforts to provide a friendly space for stray animals. It serves as a temporary shelter before these animals find a warm, permanent home, allowing homeless dogs and cats to avoid suffering on the streets.
The foster home operates not only as a café or pet restaurant to generate income for feeding the strays but also seeks sponsors to help the animals find a final, secure place to belong. Because the animals frequently interact with visitors, their personalities tend to be more affectionate. Thanks to the dedication of the foster caregivers, the animals also receive good basic training and care.
If you want to get closer and interact with them, ordering a cup of coffee or a meal naturally attracts these adorable dogs to come near you.
Lang Lang Don't Cry
Lang Lang Don't Cry has foster homes and cafés located in Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan. They encourage dog adoption to ensure love does not go astray.
Xiwang Coffee
Xiwang Coffee helps stray dogs become obedient and well-mannered through professional animal behavior training.
Animal Welfare Organizations and Stray Animal Care in Taiwan
Several dedicated animal welfare organizations in Taiwan, including the Republic of China Animal Protection Association, Dog Pawprint TPKP, and Lang Ai Adoption, rigorously implement health management and medical care for stray dogs and cats. Their comprehensive care includes spaying and neutering surgeries, microchip implantation, rabies vaccinations, monthly flea treatments, and basic site cleanliness, population control, and feeding routines. These organizations strive to provide the best possible care for stray animals, effectively representing the love and concern of many compassionate individuals.
Caretakers interact daily with the stray animals, helping them become more socialized and affectionate toward humans. They also regularly photograph and meticulously document each animal's characteristics, personality, and health status. This thorough approach ensures the well-being of the animals and fulfills the commitment of animal lovers to accompany and care for these "fur kids".
Key Organizations and Their Efforts
- Animal Protection Association of the Republic of China: When equipped with sufficient shelter space and resources, this association supports the "You Adopt, I Foster" program as one of the options to help stray animals find homes.
- Dog Pawprint Happiness Alliance (TPKP): This group focuses on rescuing and rehoming Golden Retrievers, ensuring that these dogs find happy and loving families.
- Lang Ai Adoption (I adopt): Advocates for adoption over purchase, encouraging everyone to become the best guardians for stray animals by adopting them.
These organizations collectively emphasize responsible care, health management, and socialization of stray dogs and cats, contributing significantly to animal welfare in Taiwan.
Pet Adoption Platforms: Lang Lang Gambate and Wepet
Thanks to the advancements in internet technology, there are now increasingly more pet adoption platforms available. These platforms not only facilitate pet adoption but also serve as search hubs where information about adopting, lost, or found stray animals can be posted. Some platforms have even optimized and integrated all public shelters, animal protection organizations, and private adoption channels into one comprehensive system.
By uniting diverse forces from various sectors, these platforms help stray animals find a stable and warm home.
Lang Lang Gambate
Lang Lang Gambate is a pet adoption platform that also includes features for posting lost and found stray animals. By integrating various resources on one platform, it enables faster connections between adopters and their beloved furry companions.
Wepet Pet Information Platform
Wepet is a pet information platform that leverages the power of online adoption websites to significantly assist stray animals in obtaining resources and finding nurturing homes. It was created by a couple inspired to continue their love for their long-time dog by helping more stray animals find homes. The platform operates mostly free of charge and welcomes collaboration with public welfare groups and legal entities to maximize support for animal adoption.
Stray Animal Adoption Groups: The Power of Online Communities
Online communities dedicated to stray animal adoption have become a powerful force. The main organizers, who raise the call to action, establish large groups with tens of thousands of members focused on multi-faceted adoption efforts and posting lost-and-found notices for stray animals.
Adoption information shared within these groups comes from all directions, showcasing how many people are strongly committed to the cause of caring for stray animals. Whenever difficulties or problems arise, there is always a group of dog and cat lovers who support and encourage each other.
Moreover, the strength of these online communities often helps many animal protection organizations provide regular meals and care for stray animals in their shelters.
However, a thoughtful reminder is necessary: when adopting dogs through these groups, it is important to remain vigilant against unscrupulous individuals or businesses.
