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Many people have concerns about dogs from animal shelters. We show what the prejudices are and why the animals are often easier to care for than their reputation.
Countless dogs are waiting for a new family in German animal shelters. And yet only a fraction of the newly acquired animals from animal welfare are adopted. On the one hand, many people would rather have a purebred dog from a breeder - and on the other hand, there are some stubborn prejudices against animal shelter dogs. We have with Dr. Eva-Maria Natzer from the Munich animal shelter spoke to see what the truth of these prejudices is. You can find out how to adopt a dog from an animal shelter in five steps here.
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1. Prejudice: Animal shelter dogs have behavioral problems
The most common prejudice against animal welfare dogs is certainly that the animals are all traumatized and have behavioral problems. “Of course that’s not true,” says Dr. Natzer sure. “The animals come to us in completely different ways. Sometimes the previous owner simply died or became ill and can no longer care for the animal. But until then, the animal was in the best hands for its entire life.”
Only a very small proportion of the animals were actually taken from undignified conditions. And the employees of the animal shelter know and communicate this. In such cases, they prepare the new owners as best as possible for living with the animal.
Unfortunately, animal shelter dogs often have to struggle with prejudice. (Symbolic image) © Funke Photo Services / imago
2nd prejudice: There is no choice in the animal shelter
Very often people buy an animal from a breeder because they really want to have a specific breed of dog. But the selection of dogs in the animal shelter is also huge: “There is almost no breed that we don’t have,” explains Dr. Natzer. “We just don’t always have everything available at the push of a button. If you're looking for a specific breed, it's best to look at several animal shelters." Sometimes a little more patience may be necessary - but a dog shouldn't be an impulse purchase anyway.
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3. Prejudice: Animals that have been trained by themselves fit better into their own lifestyle
Dogs have personalities and each animal has its own unique character. And it's true: When a human raises a puppy, the animal will adapt well to its traits during socialization. On the other hand, it is always a gamble if you take in a dog as a puppy. Because many character traits have not yet been developed at this age. As these develop over time, surprises can easily arise.
In animal shelters, however, you often adopt adult animals that have already received training. On the one hand, you save yourself the time-consuming training of a puppy that you first have to house train, for example. And on the other hand, the employees at the animal shelter usually know their animals very well. So you know about their peculiarities and character traits: “Of course, we always make sure that a dog’s level of training matches the abilities of the new owner,” assures Dr. Natzer.
4. Prejudice: Animal shelter dogs have all sorts of illnesses
One of the most persistent prejudices is that animal shelters are hotspots for animal diseases. In reality, however, German animal shelters work very closely with veterinarians to prevent infectious diseases and parasites. The requirements regarding hygiene, medical treatments and quarantine measures are strictly controlled. That's why the majority of animals are perfectly healthy. Dr. Natzer also makes it clear: “All of our animals have received the usual vaccinations and are chipped when we adopt them.”
5. Prejudice: Dogs from the animal shelter are not for beginners
You often hear that dogs from animal shelters are, although ethically the better choice, but unfortunately only for experienced dog owners. This is also an unfounded prejudice. As different as the individual dogs in the animal shelter are, the demands on potential owners are also different: “There are all kinds of behavioral problems in the animal shelter,” admits Dr. Natzer one. “But also any kind of normality.” So there is the right dog for everyone interested in terms of age, size and upbringing.
And if you, as an experienced person, choose an animal with a difficult history, this can also be a very satisfying task. And for this you will have the best reward of all: you will experience live how an animal in need of help gets better and better over time - how it gains trust and develops new courage to face life. Read five prejudices about cats – and what’s true about them – here.