If you’re thinking of adding a dog to your family, consider adopting your new best friend from an animal shelter or humane society. You’ll not only get a great feeling from rescuing a homeless pet, you’ll also get an outstanding companion. The staff at these organizations carefully check the animals for sound health and good temperament. In addition, some shelter animals have had the benefit of training to develop good manners while they waited for a new home.

Through no fault of their own, a lot of great dogs wind up in animal shelters hoping for a second chance at happiness. People relinquish their pets to shelters when they’re no longer able to care for them. Sometimes this is because the owner was unprepared for the responsibility that comes with caring for a dog. Often, however, caring owners struggling with life changes (such as a divorce and a sudden move to a pets-restricted apartment) or trying to cope with family tragedy feel their pet would be better off with someone else. They bring them to the shelter hoping that the animal will be well cared-for and placed in an excellent home.

You can find just about any age, size and breed of dog at an animal shelter. Often, people underestimate how difficult it is to care for or find appropriate homes for a litter of puppies, and turn them over to the shelter to raise and adopt out. In other cases, young dogs are relinquished because their previous owners didn’t have the time to provide regular exercise for the pup, often after having a baby. So even if you have your mind set on a puppy, a shelter is a good place to look. But if you’d like a more mature, calmer and more predictable dog that’s most likely housebroken, you’ll find these kinds of canines just as easily at a humane society or animal center.

When a new dog arrives, the shelter staff carefully evaluates each animal for physical and behavioral soundness. They make note of quirks, interview the owners for personality traits and health histories, and work with specialists to eliminate negative behaviors. Most shelters have adoption counselors who interview potential adopters. The counselors strive to understand your needs, lifestyle and understanding of dog behavior so they can make the perfect match, and also help educate you on contemporary ways of caring for and training your dog.

Bringing your newly adopted dog home is exciting for you, but it may be a little overwhelming for her. Keep her on a leash as you take her from room to room, giving her plenty of opportunity to sniff. You may want the first stop on your tour to be the backyard, or wherever you want her to relieve herself. The excitement of a car ride and coming to a new place can give her the need to empty her bowels or bladder, and the first night or two at home may see an untimely accident. Shelter counselors suggest you act as if your dog isn’t yet housetrained while she gets used to the new environment, and that you keep her near you, on a leash. Used wisely, a dog crate can also help your new pet get through this adjustment period more smooothly.

Dogs are creatures of habit, so the sooner you establish a firm routine, the more comfortable your new dog will become. Always feed her in the same spot and at about the same time each morning, and you’ll find she grows to anticipate “what comes next.” For example, if you always feed her after you start your coffee percolating, you’ll notice she becomes very excited when you fill the carafe with water. Dogs are close observers of human activity and catch on quickly!