Adopting a pet can be a wonderful way to add a loving companion to your life. But when faced with the prospect of welcoming a stray animal into your home, it can be difficult to know what to do. Is it okay to adopt a stray dog, and if so, how can you ensure that you are caring for the animal in the best way possible? In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of adopting a stray dog, as well as examine some practical considerations that should be taken into account before making such an important decision. From determining the amount of time and resources you can realistically devote to the animal to understanding the commitment involved in welcoming a pet into your life, we will consider all the factors at play when considering whether to adopt a stray dog.
Please check back and comment below with any topics you would like us to cover in more detail as we will continue to update this document with the most recent training and useful resources.
When adopting a dog or bringing a new dog home, there are some crucial things to understand. For street dogs and puppies, there are just a few additional factors to take into account.
First of all, I want to thank you for saving a life by adopting a street dog, providing it with a forever home. You saw the issue, it’s everywhere, it surrounds us, and you realized that we are the solution to this issue, even though you had the option to purchase a purebred dog to conform to society and do what everyone else is doing.
Before we begin discussing the equipment you might need to purchase and the training you might need to complete, it is critical to understand that this is a journey for both you and the dog. The dog’s life will undergo a significant change as well. Because the dog trusted you to bring him or her into your life, please be patient. We should always give the dog the best possible life. Be patient with yourself. If we are willing to observe and learn the behaviors of the dog, we can learn a lot about ourselves as well. Ill share a few examples of this later.
Programs & Services at the ASPCA
In the vicinity of New York City, the ASPCA Adoption Center is currently unavailable for walk-in visitors and only provides online adoptions. Please visit our Adoption Center page for more information.
You can also make an appointment to visit one of the Animal Care Centers of NYC shelters to adopt a pet.
Learn more about the ASPCA’s New York City veterinary and spay/neuter programs.
Animal cruelty cases in New York City should be reported to the NYPD. Please call 311 if you live in NYC and need to report animal cruelty. For crimes in progress, please dial 911. Any form of abuse needs to be reported right away to the relevant authorities. Visit our Report Animal Cruelty page to learn more.
Residents of New York City’s five boroughs can get spay/neuter surgery for their cats and dogs for free or at a low cost from the ASPCA. Visit the ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic page to learn about eligibility requirements, see our schedule, and join the online waitlist.
You might want to get in touch with one of the 24 hour-accessible veterinary clinics listed below:
Animal Medical Center (212) 838-8100 510 E. 62nd Street, between FDR and York Aves. Open 24 hours.
Open twenty-four hours a day Manhattan Veterinary Group 240 East 80th, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues (212) 988-1000
Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), a national telephone hotline, if you believe your pet may have been poisoned or has ingested a toxic substance. It is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It is staffed by veterinarians and board-certified veterinary toxicologists. A consultation fee may apply for this lifesaving service. The phone number is (888) 426-4435.
You might want to get in touch with Pet Chauffeur at (212) 696-9744 or (866) PETRIDE for pet transportation in New York City. The Pet Taxi has also been used by clients of the ASPCA; please call them at (718) 335-9665 for your pet ride and mention that you were referred by the organization to receive a 10% discount on your ride.
Due to funding cuts by the Department of Health, Animal Care Centers (ACC) of New York City is no longer able to pick up stray cats and dogs. If the animal is tame and you are able to provide transport, you may bring him or her to any of AC&C’s five shelters/receiving centers.
Please use caution when interacting with unfamiliar animals; stay away from any stray animals that are acting strangely or aggressively. Please call 311 to report the animal if it appears to be potentially dangerous or ill.
Thank you for being concerned about the community cat population in New York City. The ASPCA recommends using the proven humane and efficient Trap-Neuter-Return-Monitor (TNRM) method to manage community cat colonies. Learn more about TNRM in New York City, here.
In New York City (and many other areas in the country), licensing your dog is the law. To apply for a dog license, visit the website of the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) or call 311 to reach the DOHMH’s Dog Licensing Unit. You may also obtain an application from a veterinarian, animal shelter or pet shop.
Please be aware that you must keep all of your pet’s veterinary records because you cannot get your dog a license unless you have the documentation proving that he or she has received a rabies vaccination. The easiest way to comply with the New York City Health Code’s requirement to show proof of a current dog license and rabies vaccination while out in public is to attach the vaccination tag from your veterinarian and the city license tag you’ll receive in the mail from the DOHMH to your dog’s collar. Violation of these laws may result in fines.
Dogs must be on a leash in public areas of New York City. The leash cannot be longer than six feet. Authorized staff members of New York City’s Departments of Health, Sanitation, or Parks and Recreation may issue a ticket for violating the leash law. Please call 311 to report an unleashed dog.
In December 2006, the New York City Board of Health approved legislation to formally allow supervised dogs to play unleashed in certain city parks between 9:00 P.M. and 9:00 A.M. Please visit the NYC Parks Department to view a list of parks, by borough, that participate in this program. This site also offers loads of valuable information for New York City dog owners, such as a listing of dog runs and when and where you can take your dog to the beach!
Any species of animal not specifically prohibited from ownership by federal, state, or local law may be purchased from a pet store in New York City (please see the following FAQ for a list of NYC’s prohibited species).
In addition, as of April 2016, selling or giving away rabbits is prohibited in New York City pet stores. Pet stores in New York City can only purchase dogs and cats from breeders with a U.S. health certificate, who must also have them microchipped and spayed or neutered before selling them. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) “class A” license. Visit nyc to learn more about the city’s revised pet store law. gov.
Wildlife and endangered species are not allowed to be kept, owned, harbored, or sold in New York City. Ferrets, iguanas and tarantulas are among these species.
Article 161 (“Animals”) of the Health Code outlines exactly which species are forbidden. Please view this document to read the full list.
The Canine Waste Law (Section 1310 of the New York State Public Health Code) was passed by New York State in 1978 and mandates that city dog owners pick up their dogs’ waste. There are always a few bad apples in the Big Apple, despite the fact that the majority of urban pet parents are responsible and clean up after their dogs. Particular blocks, typically on less-populated streets, seem to draw this type of dog owner.
To report such problem areas, please either call 311 or fill out this online form provided by the Department of Sanitation (DOS).
The DOS takes this problem seriously, writing hundreds of tickets to Canine Waste Law violators every year. However, if you have contacted the DOS several times and seen no improvement to the dog poop problem, consider contacting your community board and your representative on the New York City Council.
You can contact the Department of Environmental Protection with complaints about barking dogs in New York City at 311.
Please be aware that the ASPCA does not employ certified wildlife rehabilitators, nor do we have any experts or a department dedicated to wildlife.
Raccoons and opossums will not be removed from properties by Animal Care Centers (ACC) of New York City, but pigeons, gulls, starlings, sparrows, and squirrels are accepted at all of its facilities.
The following businesses in and around New York City offer resources or provide assistance to wildlife:
For information about animals discovered in city parks, contact Urban Park Rangers at (800) 201-PARK.
In some circumstances, it might be necessary to hire a skilled business to get rid of obtrusive animals from your home. You can find humane services by contacting the organizations listed above or by checking your local yellow pages. You are urged by the ASPCA to only use businesses that treat animals in a responsible and humane manner.
Call 311 for more information on this subject or for a directory of wildlife rehabilitation facilities near New York City.
#6 Who doesn’t love a mutt?
Since street dogs reproduce with whomever they like whenever they like, you won’t find many purebreds walking about (ok, that’s not quite true, Chile seems to have an abundance of Sharpeis and we found the odd street Golden Retriever in Turkey). Purebred dogs tend to have more genetic health issues due to inbreeding, though evidence is inconclusive.
FAQ
Is adopting a stray dog a good idea?
Street dogs often crave the structure and advantages that a caring human can give them. They will probably be more submissive and quick to pick things up knowing that you are the Food Person after spending their entire lives searching for food. They are very motivated by food, so positive reinforcement works well with them.
Can stray dogs make good pets?
The researchers find that city dogs that are allowed to roam freely do well in their new residences. This will reassure anyone considering adopting a dog of a similar breed.
What should I know before adopting a stray dog?
- Try to look for the owner. Report the lost pet to PawMaw. com to inform neighbors about the stray dog you are caring for.
- Take the dog for a medical checkup. The stray dog’s health is of course another primary concern.
- Pet-proof your home. …
- Please give him some time to get used to his new family.
Is it okay to touch a stray dog?
Give the animal enough time to trust you before approaching. The dog might be in pain and might snap at you if you touch or pick it up. Make sure to move them to a secure location as soon as you gain their trust and make contact. Hurt and abandoned dogs are easily attacked by other dogs.