DETROIT – Looking for a new furry friend? You have two options: adopting or buying.
Adopting involves bringing a dog home from a shelter or rescue, whereas buying a dog involves buying from a breeder, pet shop or puppy mill. The main differences between the two are the origin of the animal and costs. Buying a dog, especially a purebred, can be expensive, costing families up to $10,000 -- or more. With adoption, fees tend to stay under $350. Adopting a dog can also mean saving a life. When a family chooses to adopt a dog, it gives that dog a second chance at life. It also makes more space in the shelter for another dog to be able to stay longer.
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More information on the differences between adopting and buying dogs can be found here.
Where can you adopt?
Many shelters in Metro Detroit offer adoptions of dogs, as well as fostering and affordable spaying and neutering:
- Detroit Dog Rescue is a no-kill shelter focusing on helping the homeless and stray dog epidemic in Detroit. They also offer fostering, spaying and neutering, and pet identification.
- Michigan Humane offers dog, cat, small animal and farm animal adoptions.
- Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society offers adoptions for dogs and cats, along with fostering for both.
- Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control offers adoptions, fosters and support for pet parents.
- Humane Society of Huron Valley in Ann Arbor offers adoptions and affordable spay/neuter procedures
Interested in fostering?
If a family is not quite ready to adopt a dog, a good option is fostering. According to Detroit Dog Rescue, fostering dogs is important because it helps them get used to living in a home. The home could have things like kids and other pets, which makes them better candidates for future adoptions.
There are three main types of fostering to participate in:
- Foster to adopt is when a family can foster a dog with the intention of eventually adopting them. Foster parents are responsible for caring for the dog and meeting the dog’s needs.
- Foster to re-home allows families to care for a dog temporarily with the purpose of finding them a different suitable home. Foster parents take on the responsibility of promoting the dog’s availability, screening potential adopters and facilitating the adoption process.
- Hospice fostering involves providing end-of-life care and support for terminally ill or elderly rescue dogs. Foster parents provide a loving home for the dog and make sure they receive the care and attention they deserve.
Where can I foster?
Most shelters that adopt also allow families to foster after filling out the proper application:
Detroit Dog Rescue will provide all of the food and supplies needed to support the dogs during their stay.
Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control provides goody bags for dogs to get foster parents started. The bag includes food, treats, toys, a new harness, collar and leash.
Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society provides food and medical supplies, along with toys and training tools.
Spaying/Neutering your dog:
It’s important for all dogs to be spayed or neutered. This can help curb certain behaviors in dogs, such as aggressive behavior, roaming, heat and excessive barking. It can also increase a dog’s lifespan by two years, according to a University of Georgia study.
Getting a dog spayed or neutered at the right time is extremely important. According to the Humane Society, the right time can be different depending on the size and gender of the dog, and whether the dog is in a shelter:
- Owned small, medium and large breed male dogs should be neutered before they are 5 months old.
- Owned giant breed male dogs should be neutered after growth stops, 12-15 months of age because of orthopedic concerns. If the giant dog roams freely, he should be neutered before they are 5 months old due to population concerns.
- Owned female dogs should be spayed before they are 5 months old.
- Shelter animals should be altered before adoption, as early as 6 weeks old.
For more information on the importance of spaying/neutering dogs, visit Humane Society International’s website.
Where can you get a dog spayed/neutered?
Many vet clinics offer spaying/neutering services, and many shelters and clinics offer low-cost spaying/neutering services:
For a list of more shelters offering low-cost spaying and neutering, visit PAWS of Michigan’s website.
Adding a new addition to the family, like a dog, can be a big change. With the right resources and support, the transition can be smooth for the dog and the family.
What should I do if I find a dead or stray dog in Detroit?
Improve Detroit is a free app where residents can quickly and easily report dead dogs or stray dogs to the city. The app is handy for reporting other issues too, like potholes and running water.
Residents who don’t want to use the app should call 313-876-0004.