Sayde's 1 Year Anniversary and Why You Should Rescue a Dog

You're probably sick of hearing me say this, and you probably saw it in Friday's post, but just in case you missed it, let me say it once more: adopting our sweet little dog, Sayde, was the best thing that Ben and I have ever done as a couple (besides getting together/getting married...). 

Really and truly, her existence has added so much to our lives that I cannot even put it into words (without just gushing and gushing and boring you), and I had no idea how much I would love her when I first started dreaming about getting a dog. 

Today, we celebrate Sayde's 1 year rescue anniversary, and we're thrilled to be doing so; It feels like a very special day. 

On December 22nd, 2013, Ben and I drove to a bus stop almost 2.5 hours away, and waited for our little bundle of joy as she made her way to New England from Arkansas on a bus filled with dogs. 

It was pretty magical to pick her up in this way, and to meet all of the other adoptive parents who were just as excited to meet their new pups as we were, and as we drove home with this tiny little 13 lb. dog-child in our laps, we had no idea what was in store for us. {Read Sayde's adoption story here.}

There's something really wonderful about adopting a dog--about providing a solid, loving home to a pup that didn't have one before (and may have never had one)--and although I know there are some specific reasons that you might need to get a dog from a breeder over a rescue, those reasons are pretty few and far between as compared to the good that comes from adopting. 

So, just in case you're on the fence about the whole thing, or have heard lots of rumors about the challenges of rescuing, here are 5 reasons to adopt a rescue a dog vs. get one from a breeder or pet shop:

1. Adopting can save a dog's life. 
Each year, approximately 1.2 million dogs are euthanized in the U.S. When you adopt a dog, you are saving either your dog's life or another dog's life, by making room for him/her in the shelters or rescues. When there are so many dogs without homes, and so many dogs being euthanized, it's a no-brainer to save a dog who might not have a chance otherwise. 

2. Almost all dogs have issues.  
Something I often hear people say is that "rescue dogs have too many issues." Okay, yes, I am the first to admit that Sayde has TONS of issues (she really does!), and that sometimes rescue dogs do have more issues than non-rescues, but that's definitely not always the case, and the majority of dogs have issues of some sort, they just vary in their extremity. 

In our group training there were quite a few non-rescue dogs who had just as many issues as Sayde. They may have been different issues--chewing, going to the bathroom in the house, crazy barking all the time, insanely hyper, running away--but the point is that dogs are animals, and knowing whether or not a dog is going to have issues is a very hard thing to predict, no matter where you get him/her. 

Similarly, from what I've learned, the issues teach you SO much about yourself and your dog, and you love your dog so much, that the issues don't really matter. It's a package deal. You learn how to work with your dog and help it get over it's issues and there's a special sense of accomplishment and teamwork that comes from that. 

I should note, however, that when adopting it's extra important that you get the full picture of your dogs history, health, and tendencies towards aggression (when possible).

3. You can still get the breed/kind of dog you want. 
Want a specific type of dog? Love pugs or daschunds or labs? Good news--there are specialty rescues that focus on all types of specific breeds, so you can still get the kind of dog that you want without having to go to a breeder! There seems to be a common misconception that if you adopt, all you'll find are mutts. This is not the case! With the miracle that is the internet, you can find a dog of almost any breed to adopt, and even if it isn't close to you (geographically), you can work with the rescue to find a way to get the dog (bus, plane, meeting someone in the middle, etc). 

But btw, mutts are pretty great, too ;) 

4. You can still get a puppy. 
Yes! It's true! Check out any adoption site or shelter and you'll see that there are plenty of puppies available. They may not be 6 weeks old, but they're still puppies. And great news--many of them are already house-trained, so sometimes you get to adopt a puppy and bypass that challenging stage. It's a win-win. 

5. In many cases, you'll save money. 
If you're nervous about how much money it can cost to get a dog, adoption is the more affordable route. Usually the adoption fee is WAY less than you would pay for a dog from a breeder (who can charge thousands) and/or from a pet store. Plus, most of the time adopted dogs have already been spayed/neutered, checked out by a vet, treated for any health issues, and have gotten their shots, so you save money there, as well. 

Oh, and I should mention that if you adopt, you can feel good about yourself because you are voting against puppy mills, which are HORRIBLE operations that exist all over our country and sell puppies through pet shops, online, and by posing as breeders. If you don't know about puppy mills, I encourage you to read about them, which will ensure you never get a dog from anyone who isn't completely transparent about where the dog came from.

So, let me say it one last time: if you want a dog and don't have a big life circumstance that is preventing you from doing it, just DO it. You won't look back. 

Having a dog will change your life for the better in every way possible, and even if she wakes you up in the middle of the night--every night--to go outside, you will take her out willingly, because you love her that much. And then you'll cuddle and she'll lick your face and you will think, "I want 5 more dogs." 

That being said, we've gotten Sayde a special anniversary doggy cupcake (complete with a candle and doggy icing), and we'll be celebrating her rescue date (the day we rescued her AND she rescued us) tonight. Follow me on instagram to join the party ;) 

Happy adopting!