Bichons are small dogs that are known to make excellent companions. They are friendly, happy-go-lucky, gregarious pets. Bichons and other purebred dogs do end up in animal shelters. The American Humane Association estimates that purebred animals make up 25 percent of animal shelter populations. "Designer" breeds are growing in popularity, so bichon mixes are also now seen in shelters. Rescuing a bichon or bichon mix not only saves a life, but will add joy and love to your home.
Instructions
1. Contact your veterinarian or other pet care professional and discuss your desire to rescue a bichon. Families that need to rehome their pets often contact their veterinarian to see if the vet knows of a good family looking for that kind of pet.
2. Consider fostering a bichon for Wisconsin Bichon Rescue in Madison. Foster homes are safe havens for special-needs or older bichons until they recover and find a permanent home. By fostering you will learn about the breed and might fall in love with your foster dog, leading to an adoption.
3. Search www.petfinder.com for a bichon in a shelter near your home. Internet shelter portals allow you to narrow searches by zip code, breed and even age. If you find a bichon in an animal shelter, it may be necessary to adopt the dog immediately. Many shelters do not have the space to keep dogs, so plan on coming home with a bichon if you see one in a traditional shelter.
4. Post a request on www.craigslist.com. The craigslist pet section allows people who want to find a new home for their pets to meet with prospective pet owners. Although breeders are not allowed to sell pets on craigslist, they try to, so be wary of the person you are dealing with and confirm information you are given with a third person, such as a veterinarian.
Tags: animal shelter, their pets, your home