Woof! Petfinder.com is a great way to find a pet who really needs a home. We believe you shouldn't even think of going to pet stores or breeders without considering this option first.
Every day during Pet Month, we'll be featuring some of our favorite furry friends from Petfinder.com.
Today is Diva's day in the spotlight. Diva is a 4 month old spayed female puggle. Read on for more info...
"She is a feisty little girl who can be quite demanding at times. Diva would do best with a family who will be committed to helping her with her puppy behaviors, which need a little work. She is still a bit on the nippy side so we would not reccommend her for small children. Diva does like to be held and she is absolutely adorable. She is definately a diamond in the ruff!!!"
To adopt Diva, contact CARE America.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Great idea! Petfinder.com is a great initiative for shelters and rescue groups around the country...and played a crucial role in pet-people reunions post-Katrina.
You can search their database by region, type of pet, specific breed, age, sex, etc.
As someone who has listed fosters on PetFinder, I want to say something to potential adopters. Don't be put off when asked to fill out a detailed application, give references, and maybe be interviewed and/or have a home check. Try to remember that most of these animals have just come from bad situations and the rescue people want to find the best possible homes. The thoroughness of the process becomes understandable from the other side.
We've just adopted a sweet dog from PetFinder. We are in Toronto, but the dog came from a high-kill pound in Ohio. She was given up when her ownder saw her mating, and didn't want to deal with puppies, and she was only 6 months old. She's almost a year old now and we've had her for 2 weeks. All dogs need adjustment and time to learn in a new home, especially rescued dogs. So please be patient!
Petfinder is great! I love my boston terrier (she's a 4 year old rescue). I got her last fall and found her through Petfinder. Please, please adopt if you're considering getting a pet. There are so many great animals out there that need homes!
I agree! When we got our rescue girl last year, we had to go through *three* interviews--one with her, one for a home visit, and one with our older dog. It was a lot, but you could tell they really wanted the animals to go the best possible place. She's a sweetheart and was temperament tested, too, so we know she'd be a good match for future little ones.
We found our adorable pure-bred Jack Russell Terrier through Petfinder...
While it did take us a while to find a shelter that would let a JRT go to us city dwellers (some shelters wouldn't let apartment owners adopt active breeds; it didn't matter that we live 3 blocks from Prospect Park and are very active), we kept looking/ applying until we got the go ahead... and we got the best little doggie. Petfinder's a GREAT resource - not only are you doing the right thing by adopting, but you'll likely get the pet of your dreams for a lot less cash.
petfinder(dot)com = match(dot)com for petowner wannabes. "Just looking" has a way of turning into something more permanent.
I just passed the two year mark for my border collie lab mix...when I was really looking for a Sheltie. But I saw those puppy eyes, and, well, I wouldn't trade him for anything.
Petfinder.org is a fantastic resource and I'm so happy AT is promoting them. Another note to potential adopters: Don't be afraid to just walk into your local shelter and have a look. The application process is designed to help you and the shelter make the best match, so once you've got paramaters keep your heart open. When I worked at a no kill shelter (Ramapo Bergan Animal Refuge in Oakland, NJ- plug!) people came in thinking they only wanted a specific breed or age and ended up taking home a pet they would've have expected to be the perfect addition to their family.
I'm so glad AT is doing this feature. Three of the cats I've had in my adult life have been from shelters and the fourth was found abandoned alongside the road when he and his sister were teeny. Adopting one of these animals is a wonderful, wonderful thing to do. I hope someone finds a friend through AT's postings on this.
There's nothing like another beating heart to make a house a home.
Yeah for promoting petfinder! We found our beloved dog through their site--we never would have found him otherwise.
A note of caution:
As for the shelter application process, we should have taken the absolute LACK of one as a red flag. Our quiet little puppy had the parvo virus, and was in reality very, very sick when we took him home. Two days later, he was at the vet's on an IV drip (he survived, and is now the crazy little guy that he really is).
I spent over a year and a half reading and researching doggies and used petfinder to get my *best bud*! Petfinder was a great way to search ahead of time, sort of like that old yellow pages ad of letting your "fingers do the walking*
Also, I read a lot of books, dog sat for quite a few friends to *try on* the personality of different breeds. Also, my best book resource for searching out what breed was best for me is "Your Purebred Puppy" by Michele Welton.
More props for Petfinder. We found our little rat terrier through pet finder and will always be thankful to both petfinder and ratbones rescue, the foster group that cared for her between the shelter and us.