How to Adopt the Best Pet for Your Family and Meet DeKalb County Animal Services Pet of the Week

By Karen Hirsch

There is no better time to adopt a shelter pet! During October, DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS) is offering adoptions at no cost! This include the pet’s spay/neuter, vaccines and microchip! Regular screening applies to ensure the pets are going to good homes.

Pets can bring many benefits to your family. Dogs and cats provide unconditional love which has been shown to have positive health affects on adults and children alike. And with 30+ animals entering DCAS on many days, adoption can is a great way for a family to make a difference in their community by saving the life of an animal.

There are several important questions to consider before adopting a pet. First, how much time will the pet be at home left alone during a normal day? If your family is away from home during the day, then a puppy who isn’t yet housebroken wouldn’t be a good choice for you.

Next, consider your home and lifestyle. Do you live in a condominium with no back yard? Then you may want to adopt a lower-energy type dog or a cat. Are you looking for an exercise buddy? Then you’ll probably want a higher energy pet. What size is your home? If you have a small space, a small-to-medium dog may be the best choice for your lifestyle. Does anyone in the family have allergies? If so, you’ll want to consider breeds who are less likely to shed. Do you have experience with pets and feel comfortable training them, or would you prefer pet who already knows some basic commands?

Once you’ve answered these questions, you can maximize your time at the shelter by first visiting the shelter’s website,www.dekalbcountyanimalservices.com, clicking on the “Adoptable Animals” tab, and looking through the adoption profiles. This way, you can identify a few pets you’re interested in meeting even before you enter the shelter.

Next it’s time to visit the shelter. Remember to bring your whole family if possible and plan on spending at least 15 to 20 minutes with each potential pet in DCAS’s play area or visiting room to give them time to bond with you. If you’re interested in adopting a dog and you already have a one at home, it’s a good idea to bring him or her along to make sure that both dogs get along.

A DCAS adoption counselor will help you find the perfect pet for your family. Before meeting the pets, be sure to ask the adoption counselor about the animal’s energy level, whether they get along with other animals and children and if they have any medical needs you should be aware of.

After you’ve found “the one,” you’ll fill out an adoption application, and once approved, you’ll receive a packet containing care tips, medical information and coupons for a free first veterinary visit and a discount on behavioral training. Animals who are already spayed or neutered may be able to go home with you on the day of your visit. Otherwise, your pet will stay at the shelter for a few days and will be ready to pick up after surgery.

That’s it! You’ll now be the proud parent of a new pet who will add years of happiness and fun to your family.

DeKalb County Animal Services Pets of the Week: Lilac and Monty

One of the great pets you can adopt at our shelter is Lilac, an amazingly sweet girl who wants nothing more than to please her human. This three-year-old girl is smart and already knows a few commands. She is so eager to please, that she learns tricks very fast and she enjoys showing them off to everyone. Lilac is good with other dogs and likes children too. If you are looking for a dog who has mountains of love to give her new family, you need to come meet Lilac! She is FREE during the month of October!

Another great pet waiting for his new family is a ten-month-old boy named Monty. This sweet and wiggly puppy is a Shepherd mix who loves playing with toys and loves other dogs. Monty adores people and has an adorable personality. He is also good with other dogs and children and is eager to please. And Under our “Fall in Love” promotion, if you adopt Monty the end of October, you will get this great boy who has been neutered, vaccinated and microchipped for FREE!

To meet Lilac or Monty, please drop by the shelter, emailadoption@dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404) 294-2165. To view other great animals available for adoption, visit www.dekalbanimalservices.com.