PAW: 1- preparing for adoption

My boyfriend, Josh, and I both wanted a dog, but living in New York City poses a challenge for pet ownership for two main reasons.  First, affordability: I made a good habit of spending every dollar I made on rent, taxis, clothes, food, alcohol, and flights to visit my family in Southern California.  Josh made it a good habit to save more money, but spend what he wasn't saving on shoes and flying to almost every Saints game, away or home.  Second, availability: a dog relies on you to be available to their needs and wants... somewhat like a small child who cannot speak and isn't allowed to go most places with you.  Neither of us had availability in our busy social, shopping, and traveling schedules to spend time with a pet. 

When we first got the news of a possible re-location for a job opportunity for Josh, we both agreed that the first thing we wanted to invest in would be a dog.  Our move posed a lot of changes and surprisingly not a lot of challenges.  We were moving in together, driving through 9 states to our new residing city, combining furniture and decor, Josh starting a new managing position, and me finding a new job in a new career field.  It only took us 2 months to be settled and comfortable in our new professional and personal roles. 

When deciding on a dog we discussed and decided on the following:

• where to get the dog- SPCA
• the age of the dog- NO YOUNGER THAN 1, NO OLDER THAN 5
• gender- FEMALE
• size- MEDIUM
• where the dog stays while we're at work or out- CRATE
• rules for around the house- NO COUCH OR BED

At the shelter we learned that we also needed to pay attention to heartworm status.  I ruled out heartworm positive dogs because the treatment is so harsh and requires a very quiet and calm environment.  Also, I didn't think I could handle it because I can be very emotional. 

After finding 3 great options for dogs and losing all 3, Josh found Ramona.  She didn't run around and play- she just followed him to the outside area, laid down and rolled over for a belly rub.  The SPCA requires all family members to meet a dog before adopting so we got the information for where Ramona would be the next day (dogs usually go to adoption fairs on the weekends).

That Saturday was like Christmas morning to me... I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to hit the adoption fair to go meet this dog that Josh spoke so highly of.  She was cuter than Josh had described (to his defense, he had seen our Beagle mix right after a bure bread Lab and a pure bread Cocker Spaniel) but was just as sweet as I anticipated.  Ramona is heartworm positive, but once I met her I knew that I could put my emotions and hesitations aside to rescue my sweet girl.

These are a few things that we did and wish we did to prepare:

• check the SPCA website, http://www.aspca.org/, or websites that list rescue animals such as http://www.petango.com/ for pictures and details about dogs up for adoption
• go into the shelter with no expectations of bringing the dog home- with emotions high it's easy to make an impulsive decision.  you should be 100% positive this is the right dog for you
• decide if you have the right home or family dynamic to rescue a dog with heartworms
• I encourage this if you are a single person or a couple, especially living in an apartment
• turns out we are the perfect situation for Ramona during her treatment as we have to leash her to go outside and eliminate, she is in her crate while we are both working so she has a lot of quiet time, and when we come home it is 2 calm adults who have a routine. 
• re-work your budget to see what you can afford
• the type of breed and age you get may depend on your affordability
• younger pups and certain breeds chew more, which could potentially sacrifice furniture, shoes, toys, and other things lying around
• larger breeds require more food- the smaller the dog, the less food you feed at each meal, the longer the bag of food lasts
• certain breeds and older dogs may be more substainable to medical and health conditions
• allow at least $300 to get things started
• treats, food, food and water bowls, toys, crate, bed, leash, collar, ID tag with your contact info and dog's name, grooming (we got Ramona groomed her first day since she was a little dirty from running around the shelter), prevention medication, brush, blankets and towels designated for dog use, firts aid kit, evacuation kit (if applicable), puppy profing (if applicable), and anything else I missed!
• set aside a portion of your savings ($500 give or take) for unexpected costs or late-night vet visits
• decide on house rules and training techniques
• I am OBSESSED with It's Me or the Dog both in book and TV show form... check out Victoria Stilwell's website for positive reinforcement training to read blogs, find Positively trainers, buy her books, listen to podcasts, or get information about the Animal Planet TV show: http://www.positively.com/
• divy up responsibilies- who will do what and when?
• research vets, boarding facilities, dog parks in your area
• know your limits!  some management companies will not allow certain breeds on their property.  always check with your landlord to ensure you area allowed to have a pet, how much the pet deposit will cost, and if there are any restrictions or limitations
• the first dog we liked was a Pit Bull mix and our management company does not allow that breed to reside in our complex :(
• have a list of emergency phone numbers, like your local 24 hour vet, poison control, and anything else that pertains to your area
• Ramona had a visit to the 24 hour vet about 2 weeks into having her
• designate an entire weekend to the new dog and getting her familiar with you and her new home
• talk to friends or family members who have dogs, especially people who have a similar situation as yours (i.e. apartment, house, family, couple, single, etc) to get an insider's perspective
• lastly, be prepared to pick up poop, sweep up dog hair, and guard your trash!