Adoption Information

Over 3 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year in the United States. Sad, but true.  Animal shelters are overpopulated with unwanted animals, primarily the result of irresponsible breeders and dog owners.  The lucky ones are re-homed, but many live out their short lives in loneliness and deprivation.   We ask you to read the following and make sure that owning a dog is the right choice for you.

Your first consideration should be the type of dog that fits your lifestyle and living situation. There is considerable variation within the different breeds with respect to type (structure) and temperament. Each breed is so individual that one size cannot, and will not, fit all. Lack of research frequently results in a mismatch, leading to unhappiness for both the adoptive family and the adopted dog and a large number of these dogs are then relinquished to shelters.

Our goal at Lucky Day Animal Rescue is to place dogs into their forever homes, so please consider the following points before adopting a dog, and choose the breed that is the right fit for your home and lifestyle.

• All dogs require ongoing mental and physical stimulation, as well as HUMAN COMPANIONSHIP, SOCIALIZATION, AND TRAINING. Are you capable and willing to commit the time to this?
• No animal should be left in the back yard for extended periods, away from family, isolated and deprived of attention.  Pets will not thrive caged in a kennel or left alone for long periods of time. Such deprivation leads to boredom and anxiety, and ultimately destructive behaviors such as digging, chewing, barking, and destruction of property.   Do you expect to be away from home for long periods of time?  Do you expect to travel a lot on a yearly basis? If so, can you afford professional dogsitters, doggie daycare or boarding?
• Regular exercise and activity is a must. This equates to TIME, SACRIFICE, AND COMMITMENT on the owner’s part.  Are you willing to commit to that?
• Dogs and cats are a lifetime commitment.  Most dogs and cats live 12-18 years.  Are you willing to commit for that long?  That is a large portion of your own lifetime.  If your living situation changes – are you willing to do whatever it takes to keep your animal?
• Vet bills over the course of a dog or cat’s life can be in the thousands of dollars.  Are you prepared for this?  Generally, the bigger the breed, the larger the vet bill.
• Most dogs shed and some shed year-round.  Even the “non-shedding” breeds still shed a little bit of hair.  Is this something you have thought about?  You will have hair in your house – it is part of owning a dog.
• What type of home do you live in?  Do you have a yard?  Are you in a condo?  This should help to determine the type of breed that is right for you.  A Boxer, for example, is a high energy dog and needs lots of room to run.  Are you prepared to exercise your dog in all types of weather conditions?   A certain breed might seem appealing to you, but do your research on what environment works for that particular dog.
• Puppies:  It is a widely held belief that if you get a very young puppy it can be “molded” to your existing household, assuring a strong bond and success in your household. In reality, there is ALWAYS an element of risk with ANY puppy; you will not know what you really have with respect to health and core temperament until that dog is mature. Bringing a puppy up from an early age does not guarantee a good fit.  Puppies, if not trained from the start, can be a handful at 9 months old and will need a leader.   Animal shelters are full of 1-2 year old dogs that grew out of the cute, manageable puppy stage, and with no training became too much for their owner to handle.
• Keeping the dogs best interest in mind usually results in a successful placement.  We ask that you seriously consider the dog’s needs, and be realistic as to how well you are able to fulfill them. Please give thought to any financial or physical challenges you may have, as well as your ability to accommodate the dog’s need for exercise, training and socialization.
• Pets are not disposable.  They are a part of your family and deserve your love, care and attention. When behavioral issues arise they must be attended to and solved.  Every effort that you put in on the front end makes for a happier pet and family ever after.
• The cost of pet ownership. Click here to read an article about the cost of dog ownership.

Again, please consider these points before you adopt.  Lucky Day wants to match happy owners with lucky pets for a lifetime.

Thank you for considering adopting a pet from Lucky Day Animal Rescue of Colorado!