October is “Adopt-A-Dog” Month

MASON CITY – October is national “Adopt-A-Dog” month and the Humane Society of North Iowa has plenty of dogs all waiting to find their forever homes.

Adopting a dog is a fun, enjoyable and rewarding, experience that the entire family should participate in.  At the Humane Society of North Iowa, there is a large variety of dogs available for adoption; Dogs of different breeds, sizes, colors, and ages that were once someone else’s pet, but for various reasons, have found themselves at the shelter hoping to find a new loving family.

When looking to add a four-legged friend to your family, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

• Why do you want to adopt a dog?
  • Are you looking for a jogging partner? A cuddle buddy?  A security dog? A companion? Determining your reason for adopting will help narrow down what size and breed of dog will best fit your needs.
• Are you ready to make a commitment?
  • When adopting a dog, you need to prepare for them to be a part of your family for the rest of their life!  This could mean up to 10-15 years or longer.  As you experience transitions in your life such as childbirth, career changes, new homes, or moving, your dog will remain a permanent part of your life.  When circumstances change in your life, will your dog be able to make those transitions with you?
• Can you afford a dog?
  • The Humane Society of North Iowa charges a small adoption fee that covers the spay/neuter surgery, rabies vaccination, heartworm test, and veterinarian exam.  The adoption fee is just the first expense you can expect with pet ownership.  You must also factor in the monthly food bill, heartworm preventative, annual veterinarian exam and any unforeseen medical issues or emergencies.
• Do you have time for a dog?
  • Dogs do best when they have a reliable schedule of companionship and exercise each day.  They also require consistent training that builds and strengthens your overall relationship.  Dogs that are constantly left alone can develop behavioral problems, potty training issues, or become destructive in the household.
• Why should you adopt a dog from a shelter?
  • There are thousands of wonderful dogs sitting in shelters all over the country just waiting for a loving family to adopt them.  Many of these dogs were once someone else’s pet, but for one reason or another, wound up in the shelter.  Many dogs in shelters are already house broken and trained!  If you are looking for a specific breed, you are encouraged to check www.petfinder.com.  This website only shows animals that are in rescues and shelters like the Humane Society of North Iowa and you can search by a specific breed.

“When you adopt a shelter dog, you save the life of two animals; the one you adopt and the one who takes its place”, explained Humane Society of North Iowa Executive Director Sybil Soukup.

The Humane Society of North Iowa is a non-profit organization that serves a 9 county area in North Iowa and operates a no-kill rescue animal shelter in Mason City.  In the past 25 years, HSNI has found loving homes for over 7000 abandoned, displaced, and neglected animals. For more information, please call the Humane Society of North Iowa at: 641-423-6241 or visit them online at: www.hsni.org.