Monday Top Ten: What to know about the Stanislaus County Shelter

Friday brings a special feting of our furry friends – and furry friends-to-be.

Aug. 26 is National Dog Day, established in 2004 to bring attention to the plight of animals and to encourage pet adoption.

The special dog day spotlights the adoption of all canines, mixed or pure breed, and looks to bring attention to the number of dogs needing to be rescued annually, according to www.nationaldogday.com.

Locally, Stanislaus Animal Services Agency Executive Director Annette Patton said that about 2,300 animals are adopted annually from the facility. To help mark National Dog Day, Patton offers the following Top Ten Things to Know when adopting a dog from a shelter:

▪  1. Adopting from a shelter means you can get your choice of age. Puppies are cute, and require a lot of work. An older dog could be a better fit for your home. Many are housebroken and trained with basic commands.

▪  2. Shelters have plenty of purebred dogs. If you have your heart set on a specific dog breed, look into a shelter dog as a possible adoption. Nearly 25 percent of dogs in a shelter are purebred. There are also lots of specific dog breed rescue groups that specialize in a particular breed of dog.

▪  3. There will be more unique dogs to choose from at a shelter. Shelters are filled with the most unique mixes of dogs, like a dachshund/beagle mix or a springer spaniel/golden retriever. We also offer a variety of ages, even puppies. You have a lot of options for choosing the dog that is right for you. Maybe you need a senior dog, or a dog that has lived with other dogs or cats. If you visit the shelter’s website every day, you will eventually find the dog you are looking to take home.

▪  4. A myth of dog adoption from a shelter: Did you know that most dogs do not have a home due to no fault of their own? A common myth is to think dogs up for adoption in shelters or rescues are damaged in some way. Nothing could be less true! Shelters and rescues are full of lovable, active and healthy adoptable dogs just waiting for someone to take them home. By taking home a dog adopted from a shelter, not only are you saving that pet, you’re making room in the shelter for another pet. Dog adoption is truly a continuous cycle of saving lives.

▪  5. All dogs adopted from the shelter come spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, for a low adoption fee.

▪  6. If you cannot find the pet you are looking for today on the website, do not give up. Pet owners are searching every day for the right new family member. www.stanislausanimalservices.com is the No. 1 most-searched site on the county website. People come to the shelter early to adopt once they locate their new family member. It is just like shopping for a new car. You need to adopt immediately before the next person comes into the shelter to adopt the same dog you may want to take home.

▪  7. True love happens every day at shelters. Really … it does happen every day. Families are completed, pets are reunited with their families, and second chances turn into happy endings. Each year thousands of lost dogs are reunited with their families, and dogs get a second chance with a “fur-ever” home.

▪  8. Tips for the first week with your newly adopted shelter dog: Just like us, dogs need order and leadership. They seek order, which you must provide. Your dog needs to know that you are in charge and you have rules to live by. This makes the transition from the shelter to your home easier.

▪  9. Mixed breeds can compete in agility and obedience competitions. They can also become therapy or service dogs. The options are endless for what you can do with your shelter dog.

▪  10. California Legislature passed a resolution declaring the shelter pet as the official California state pet.

This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Monday Top Ten: What to know about the Stanislaus County Shelter."