Dog Health from Pounds?

My mom and I are going to get a rescued dog. We originally were going to get a puppy from a pet store, but I found a video on YouTube that TOTALLY opened my mom's eyes and mine.



Anyway, we live near two %26quot;pounds%26quot;. I guess they're pounds? They're spca stuff. Anyway, we are going to get a dog from there or a local rescue group in our area.



I was wondering, how healthy are dogs in the pound? I got my dog George with my dad from the pound, and he was healthy, but aggressive. Just look at my dad's scarred hands! Haha. Now he's an angel after nonstop training (and old age.) But, on average, are pound dogs healthy?



Also, on personal opinion, are pounds better or rescue groups like Rover Rescue and Canine Crusaders, etc?



Thank you!



PS: Here's the video that totally changed my mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ku...Dog Health from Pounds?
It depends on the pound or shelter. Some are well run and others aren't. Anytime that there alot of animals in one place that come from other places, there is a potential for disease. The better pounds and shelters that have money will at the very least vaccinate for diseases that can be passed from animal to animal. For example distemper. Some shelters will also vaccinate for rabies. The animals are quarentined and vaccinated as they come into the shelter. In some shelters the animals aren't vaccinated until the have a home which increases the chances that they have been exposed to disease.



Spaying and neutering also depends upon the shelter and how much money they have. If the desexing isn't done at the shelter, some shelters will give the new owner a money off certificate to use at a local vet. Some shelters will also provide a certificate for a free or money off exam also. If you get a certificate, make sure that you use it before the due date. Also take your paperwork in with you as your vet can get alot of information from them.



Yes shelter dogs can and do have behavior problems, however not all problems are aggression. Some of these dogs might be escape artists, cat chasers, hyper due to lack of training, not house trained, etc. Again unless you get a young puppy, many shelter dogs come with %26quot;baggage%26quot;. Most dogs in the shelter are young adults that people got and didn't realize the amount of care, money and responsiblilty a dog requires.



Notice here I didn't say all dogs in the shelter have problems. There are very nicely trained shelter dogs that might be there because of a family death, divorce, or other family circumstance (like foreclosure) that means the dog need to find a new home. These dogs had loving owners who were a victim of circumstance.



Like pounds and shelters, there are good ones and bad ones. Good rescues usually have a smaller number of animals that are in good health; have been desexed, vaccinated; and usually evaluate ie temperment test and rehabilitate before placing the animal in its new home. They will also screen new owners too.



Interview your shelter and good luck with your new dog.Dog Health from Pounds?
Most shelters treat basic illness, and they vaccinate, most spay/neuter.



There's really no way to tell.



Rescues and shelters are both great options. Take your time picking the perfect dog for you family, and go to both Rescues and shelters.Dog Health from Pounds?
Most shelter dogs are very healthy, just look around and check the dogs living condition, my local shelter has no poo in cages, they pick up any chewed up toys, the dogs are very well fed, and they have a soft bed and clean water.



Shelters will give their dogs vaccines, spay and neuter them, and they will test them for aggression. They should also help you find the right dog.Dog Health from Pounds?
The animal shelter will only adopt out the healthy animals. honestly if they can not get one healthy they'll put it down.Dog Health from Pounds?
I used to volentere at a pound still do not to much though the people there love dogs they try to take care of them but some times the dogs were abused so it dependsDog Health from Pounds?
Dogs are usually tested in health and agression before they are put up for adoption in a shelter. It is true that they will probably need proper training but I always reccomend adopting from a shelter or a rescue facility! Good luck!!Dog Health from Pounds?
All dogs either from a pound or a good breeder are a crap shoot...luck of the draw...to say these are like this is a bit much ...the shelter animals go through rigorous screening as well as their background...all shots...operations...flea baths...it is all done...they also have the history as much as they know...Dog Health from Pounds?
Every dog I've ever owned has been from the pound. The last dog I adopted (12/2006) had a tick problem and worms, but the pound paid for the first vet visit. She was easily fixed up and has been healthy since. After adopting her, my older dog did get kennel cough, which had to be treated with anti-biotics, but that could have been a coincidence, as Cookie wasn't diagnosed with it right out of the pound.Dog Health from Pounds?
A lot of shelters treat commen dog and cat illnesses, they also require you to spay or neuture microchip and sigh a paper saying you won't breed him or her at my shelterDog Health from Pounds?
i have 4 dogs, 3 came from the SPCA or city pound.

ALL of my dogs are very healthy and happy dogs. our oldest is 8 y/o and is in great shape (my avatar). He was given up to the SPCA by an elderly woman that could no longer care for him.

the next oldest is 6 1/2 she is goofy and still acts like a puppy. she was adopted from the SPCA (she was actually our foster dog and we fell in love w/her) she was rescued when she was 6 months old by the SPCA after a man threw her from a moving car, she still has the scars.

the next oldest is 6 yrs old, she was rescued at the city pound after someone dumped her on a highway. she's the sweetest dog and everyone wants to take her home w/them!



my youngest dog is 3 yrs old, he didn't come from a shelter, but from my vet. my vet called me about a woman that wanted to have him put down because he wasn't %26quot;selling fast enough%26quot;. she was a Back yard breeder, my vet put her out of business by calling and filing a report on her w/city officials. she lost her kennel license. i adopted the pup she was trying to put down.





good for you for adopting!! shelter dogs are AWESOME dogs. they get the health care they need while in the shelter and are usually more healthy than pet store pups because of the care they receive!

going through a rescue group is just a great as a shelter too. check out all your options and take your time deciding.



edit:

btw- that link doesn't take you to the video. it says: malformed video. whatever that means.



edit: thumbs downer....

,,!,,

im so freaking sick of noobs thumbs downing perfectly fine answers. wtf!?Dog Health from Pounds?
Most of the dogs we have rescued from shelters have been healthy with the exception of a few that we knew had heartworms. Since many shelters would rather euthanize heartworm positive dogs rather than use the slower cheap Ivomec method they are often offered to rescues. ANY dog you get, from a top breeder, your neighbor, the newspaper, rescue or shelter should go to the vet within 5 days for a checkup. The dogs I have personally adopted or my friends have from shelters have been healthy except for being smelly, dirty ears, fleas, and mild staph all easily remedied.Dog Health from Pounds?
Dogs are living creatures and as with all living creatures there can be no guarantee of health. All rescue groups and shelters do their very best to adopt out only healthy, happy dogs; however there is no way for them to know what a dog has been exposed to that it could be sick with in a week or two. Adult dogs usually are less susceptible to diseases because they have built up an immunity through exposure or vaccinations. Even if you buy a puppy from a breeder there is no guarantee that the puppy will not have parvo or distemper. The parvo virus can be spread by birds, squirrels, roaches, rodents and the distemper virus is airborne.Dog Health from Pounds?
With all the dogs I have ever had, the two with health problems were both from breeders. The only rescue dog I ever lost was from heartworms.



You can find some great companions in the pound. You can also find some challenges. Some shelter dogs come with baggage which needs to be addressed through training, and some are just great from the first day. It is a crap shoot, but I have adopted many dogs from shelters and I have never had to give one up. As I got more experienced with dogs, I began to actively choose the ones with some behavior issues, as they were less likely to be adopted. My most recent one is the only one to give me trouble. (And that is alot of dogs over the years!)

I currently have six shelter dogs in my house, and they are all great.

Never have I regretted my choice of any of my shelter dogs!