Best Place to Get a Puppy — Page 2

I wouldn't expect that you'd have much trouble finding a puppy (or very young dog) at your local shelter. We got my cat from the local SPCA 14 years ago, and he's been the best, most affectionate pet you could possibly imagine. He'd previously had a loving owner who had to give him up when she moved, so he was already litter box trained and loved people, but if we hadn't adopted him, he was due to be put down.

But how else will she get what she wants?

They usually come from puppy mills, which are an atrocity.

I highly recommend petfinder, otherwise go to a reputable breeder once you know what you want. Are there any dog shows in your area? If so, I think that's the best way to take in as many different breeds as you can in a short amount of time. Plus, you get to see the different dogs, pet them, play with them, and see them interact with each other.

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Updated On: 1/14/08 at 08:41 PM

Well, petfinder is sort of like an aggregator for all those local shelters. They organize it so you can search for pets close to your home.

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The whole process is a double edged sword. All the dogs not bought from a pet store and grow too big or old to be there are usually given to adoption centers or just put down. So you don't want that , so you buy, but by doing that the owners just see another sale and put another dog into the same spot. A vicious cycle. But then there are all the poor animals already at the shelters that need good homes.

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It depends on the individual shelter. Once you click on the puppy's profile, there should be links to the shelter's actual website or contact information. They are all generally very thorough, but as long as you have all you ducks in a row it is a few day process. Best bet is to check with them individually.

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Go to an AKC approved breeder.

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