Dog Owner's Responsiblities

For all the joy and love that dogs give us, we should be willing to care for them.  These are a list of things that we are responsible for when getting and owning a dog. 1.   Are you a professional breeder?  If not, please spay or nueter your dog.  Do your part to help prevent the number of homeless animals waiting for homes.  Currently there are 15 dogs born for every one person.  Please help change this satistic. 2.   What kind of dog do you want?  Think of what qualities you would like in a dog and find what breeds will fit that desciption.  Once you know that either go to a shelter and adopt a dog, or go to a professional breeder.  No pet stores, most get their animals from puppy mills. 3.   Vaccinate your dog.  It save you abunch of money in the long run.  If price is the issue look for vaccines that you can give your dog yourself.  ASk your veternarian for information and to teach you to safely give shots. 4.   Train your dog!  Even if it is just sit, it is a great relief to people who might have to work with your dog.  It will also greatly increase it's adoption chances incase it ever ends up in a shelter. 5.  Play with your dog.  Dogs are pack animals and are not happy if they do not feel like they are part of the family.  You didn't get a dog to just ignore it did you?  Playing fetch or just spending time with your dog will make your life richer and the dogs life happier. 6.  Make sure that you have control of your dogs at all time.  Millions of dogs are hit by car or lost every year.  Make sure that if they are outside that they are contianed.  If on a leash make sure that their leash and collar are on correctly.  This will save you a lot of heartbreak. 7.   I.D. tags should be on every animal.  even if it is just the rabies tag, at least they have a phone nuber to contact if the dog is ever lost.  many dogs are put to sleep just because they do not have any number to contact.