Adoption Resources

Where to look

• Local municipal shelters — lowest adoption fees, the dogs most in need.
• Private rescues — often foster-based, so you'll get detailed behavior info.
• Breed-specific rescues — great if you want a particular breed but prefer rescue.
• Petfinder, Adopt-a-Pet — search aggregators covering thousands of shelters.

Questions to ask

• What's the dog's known history? Any bite history?
• How does the dog do with other dogs, cats, kids?
• What's their energy level and exercise need?
• Any known medical issues or ongoing medications?
• Is the dog spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped?
• Is there a return policy if it's not a fit?

The 3-3-3 rule

3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn your routine, 3 months to feel at home. Don't judge your dog's true personality in the first week — they're often shut down from stress.