Basset Hound Adoption: Animal Shelters, Humane Society And Adopting Online

There are many unwanted basset hounds in animal shelters across the country waiting for adoption. There are also people who, after being knocked off their feet by the sheer cuteness of a basset hound puppy, get a basset hound only to find out that the strong will of the dog is too much for them to handle, and yet another basset hound finds itself without a home.

A person considering basset hound adoption should take the characteristics of the breed into consideration.

Basset hounds are strong-willed hounds originally meant for hunting who will need plenty of exercise, but most of all consistency in training, patience, and lots of love. Adopting a basset will shower the new owner with rewards for the rest of their lives, but potential owners should gain a solid understanding of the breed through extensive research, much of which can be done on the Internet.

Thanks to many online resources, such as sites dedicated to the breed, rescue groups, shelters, and discussion forums, it is is easy to find out more information about the extraordinary breed before making a decision. One such site is the Basset Hound Club of America, basset-bhca.org, where a slew of links on breed information, breeders, and rescue groups is available. The Humane Society of the United States, hsus.org, is another excellent resource for information about pet adoption and care.

When searching for the perfect basset to adopt, one invaluable online resource is Petfinder.com. Pets available for adoption can be searched by type of animal, breed, age, gender, size, and location. The results will not only list basset hounds in shelters, but also provides links to the shelter websites. People searching for basset hounds can view pictures of the dogs and read a description of health and temperament of each basset. It is good to keep in mind that the urge to adopt all of those basset hounds at once may become quite strong while gazing into the large brown eyes.

The actual adoption process varies from shelter to shelter, but the basic guidelines are very similar. A person wanting to adopt will need to fill out an application listing his or her living situation, other pets they have owned in the past or currently own, and that they are aware of and able to cover all the expenses of owning a pet for the rest of the pet's life. All shelters charge an adoption fee which usually covers altering the pet, initial vaccinations, and an identification tag and a microchip if the new owner so chooses. The potential owner will need to visit the shelter to meet with the new potential basset companion, which is one the most important aspects of the matching process. Just as each basset hound has their unique personality, so does each adopter, and it is important for the happiness and well-being of both that the right person is matched with the right dog.

Adopting a pet is an important decision. It requires an unwavering commitment to care for the animal for the rest of its life, no matter what the circumstances. Decisions made lightly are too often the reason why there are so many basset hounds in animal shelters waiting for their permanent homes. Animals deserve to have the best life possible, full of love and happiness. And once they have that, they will love in return, unconditionally and with all their heart.


Sources:
Stall, Sam. The Good, the Bad, and the Furry: Choosing the Dog That's Right for You. Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2005

Basset Hound Rescue Organizations. 7 Oct. 2001. WebRing, Inc. 30 July 2007. http://www.bhrescue.com/index1.html

Bassethoundrescue.com. bassethoundrescue.com, Inc. 2000. 30 July 2007
http://www.bassethoundrescue.com/maindefault.htm

Basset Hound. Petfinder.com. 2007. Discovery Communications, Inc. 31 July 2007. http://search.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?pet. Animal=Dog&pet.Breed=Basset+Hound&pet.Age=