Before even seriously thinking of bringing a puppy into one’s family life, and home, the only priority is to consider whether or not you and your family can commit enough hours, each and every day, to care for the needs of a puppy ‘child’ who will remain a ‘child’, totally dependent on its humans for its quality of life, for up to 15 years. That is a huge commitment, or should be.
The SPCA is an incredible organization that makes every effort to help and support puppies displaced by severe weather events and disasters, and the worst-case situation of puppies no longer being wanted and turned out of their homes. The effects of COVID had many folks choosing to bring a puppy into their homes, not for the sake of the puppies’ wellbeing, but to comfort their new owners.
Just how many stories were there when the effects of COVID eased and so many puppies were found no longer needed, and turned out of those very short term ‘homes’?
Extreme events often result in some local SPCA centres welcoming puppies, not only from within Ontario, but also from abroad. But when was the last time anyone read a report that said all was well within the SPCAs and that there is always space for additional puppies.
When the number of rejected puppies only continues to rise, regardless of the reasons, can we really claim to be a caring society as far as our pets are concerned?
As with the post-COVID situation, giving puppies as birthday and Christmas ‘gifts’ is little different with far too many young puppies being rejected when the interest in the ‘gift’ wanes.
So, what to do?
First and foremost, do your research and engage all the family. Owning any pet that might share your home should be a family affair, not come as a surprise.
A puppy is a living, breathing creature, but dependent and believing that its humans will look after it.
A puppy is not any new fad, or latest iPad, to be trashed and replaced when the next fad comes along.
Make the whole process a family affair from the beginning and when you have all been a part of the research, then maybe take the next step. You’ve chosen the breed you would like or maybe you really want to adopt just a plain crossbreed mongrel waiting in a local SPCA centre and hoping for a loving home.
If you are to look for a specific breed, you have more research to do. Contact several breeders and assess those you feel are genuine then go visit them, again, as a family, and see and meet their breeding stock, ask about their breeding program. When you have a good feel about the breeder you choose then you can ask about when a suitable puppy may be available.
If it's to be a mongrel at a SPCA centre, do not underestimate the SPCA staff and their ability to know their puppies and the families they may suit. When you do find the one, hopefully it will be a puppy that all the family agree they want, and chances are, by then, you will have all convinced yourselves that the puppy also chose you.
If you sit on the floor with small puppies around you, say six or seven, I guarantee that given just a few minutes you will have all of them apparently, and at random, choosing you! It’s a lovely idea and why not. But the reality is that while the small bundle of fur you have chosen may have chosen you, it will remain totally dependent on you, its human family, for its quality of life with you.
Your puppy can be relied on to give you love and loyalty and will become a full part of your family. If your choice only comes after some intensive research before even looking for your specific puppy, I think I can almost guarantee the relationship that will grow between family and puppy will be one of the most worthwhile you will experience.
I make no mention of cost, nor any suggestions on training your puppy. If you are indeed willing to do your research neither will be an issue.
And if all puppy owners were to be so caring, and we could see the numbers of rejected and unwanted puppies decline rather than grow, then maybe, just maybe, we could start to believe we are indeed a society of caring puppy owners.
