Petfinder Animal Shelter Small Dogs For Adoption Near Me (2024)

FAQs

What is the best place to get a dog? ›

Your local animal shelter or rescue organization can help you find the right match for your family. There are also breed-specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including "designer" or "hybrids" like labradoodles and puggles.

What to look for when adopting includes factors like personality, health, behavior, size, and other important considerations. You should look for a dog who is friendly and eager to make a connection; a dog whose exercise requirements fit your lifestyle; and a dog who is appropriately sized for your home.

Check with the animal shelter, rescue or breeder where you got your pet. Some organizations require in the adoption contract that you return the pet to them if you can no longer provide care. Even if it wasn't part of your contract, the organization or breeder may be able to help you find your pet a new home.

After performing a search, you will see a button with a bell icon to the right of your search results. Click on this button to set an email alert for your search. To manage all saved searches you can login or create and account here. Is the Pet I See on Petfinder Still Adoptable?

Black Dog Syndrome

Most experienced shelter workers will tell you that black dogs are often adopted less than any other coat color. Be it black Labrador Retrievers, Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc., they are often passed over by potential adopters. This discrepancy in adoptions is referred to as “Black Dog Syndrome.”

Missing Information About the Organization/Shelter

If you can't find any information about the organization or group that listed the dog, it's a major red flag – especially if there's an adoption fee involved. Puppy mills are often disguised as adoption groups and want to give dogs away quickly for a price.

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world; they're also the most adopted.

Whether it's a rescue pup or a family pet, changing owners can be a difficult and traumatic experience for any dog. It's important to recognize the signs of distress in order to help your dog adjust to their new home.

Typically, a puppy can be left alone for an hour for every month of age. So, a two-month-old puppy might be okay for about two hours alone. As dogs mature into adulthood, they can usually stay alone for about 4-6 hours, though this can stretch longer for some dogs, especially if they've been gradually accustomed to it.

The best way to get rid of a pet you don't want is to take it to your local animal shelter. There are many non-profit groups that run shelters for animals you can no longer care for. By simply opening the phone book or doing an internet search you can easily find one.

What does courtesy post mean on Petfinder? ›

The Petfinder Classifieds

Another option is to approach a local rescue or breed rescue about doing a "courtesy post" on their site. Many are happy to list animals, even if they don't have foster space to take them in physically. Some groups will even help you screen prospective homes.

A great photo makes your adoptable pet more likely to be viewed online and, most importantly, more likely to connect with a potential adopter.

Add photos and a video when you create a pet listing. You can come back and edit at any time after a listing is created. While photos are not required to post a pet, they certainly help get pets adopted quicker! Post up to 6 photos for each pet (or 5 photos and 1 video).

A dog safe space is a separate, blocked-off area – it can be a crate or even an entire room – where your dog can escape when they need a break or comfort. While these spaces vary from family to family, dog owners should always be intentional about providing this retreat for their animal.

There are more than 10,000 puppy mills in the U.S., most of which market themselves as “USDA approved” “small family breeders.” Despite what they may tell you, most (if not all) pet stores sell puppy mill puppies, and most (if not all) commercial breeders house parent dogs in conditions most people would consider ...