How Can I Adopt A Street Dog?

Dogs living on the street have certainly had a difficult fate and, in the worst case, have been beaten.

In most countries, street dogs are a common sight on the streets … The reason for this is often the irresponsibility of people. But more and more people and even groups are organizing to adopt these animals and thus save the lives of the stray dogs.

A street dog needs tenderness

Dogs living on the street have certainly had a difficult fate and, in the worst case, have been beaten. Because of this, they feel threatened by a hand above their head. Therefore, approach the dog from below with your hand.

Permanently drooping ears and no tail wagging show that the animal is stressed and that you should give it time. Many people confuse this behavior with “submissiveness” but actually the four-legged friend only protects his ears and prepares his body to defend itself or to run away quickly.

If we want to help the animal, we must first wait for it to calm down, relax its neck and ears, and start wagging its tail.

This is how you properly approach a street dog 

• Before you even approach a street dog, you should get yourself a collar and leash, blanket, or old t-shirt and food for the dog. You need something interesting enough for the dog to get close to.
• One of the first steps will be to feed the dog from a safe distance and then withdraw.
• Sit near the dog but still keep a safe distance.
• In patient steps you should place the food closer and closer to you until you can get the dog to eat next to you and maybe even out of your hand.
• Animals living on the street are not used to being touched by people. Instead of receiving tenderness, they fear human abuse. Therefore, you should be patient until the dog gives you the sign that he is allowing your body contact.

• If you can do it without persuading the dog to put the collar on while you stroke and feed him, it would be a great success. 
• As soon as the opportunity arises to put the animal in a vehicle and take it to a safe place, you should take the chance. If the dog’s skin is badly damaged by an infection or illness, cover him with an old t-shirt or blanket to avoid injury.
• When you get home, you should first feed the dog homemade food. Because on the street the animals usually feed on kitchen waste. Switching to regular dog food too suddenly can lead to indigestion.
• Then you should prepare a bed for the dog with a comfortable cover. An old piece of clothing is enough to get you started.

• You should  see the vet as soon as possible. The dog must be dewormed and vaccinated, possible diseases must be treated.
• If you are unable to pay for the treatment yourself, you can also ask animal welfare organizations in your area for support or share photos on social networks so that animal lovers can become aware of the case and help you. Friends or neighbors can also help you host a small event to cover the cost of the treatment.
• If your vet gives their approval, you should give your dog a bath and take him to a dog barber. 
• Slowly get your dog used to normal dog food.
• If the dog is still receiving veterinary treatment, you should wait until he has fully recovered before adopting him .
• Ideally, you should hand the dog over to its new family neutered. If this is not possible, the new owner should sign a document that obliges him to have the four-legged friend neutered in order to prevent dogs from ending up on the street again.

Steps to Adopt a Dog

• Photos:  Take a lot of photos where you can easily recognize the dog.
• Description: Take a few days to get to know the dog and be able to describe its character and behavior in detail
• Castration:  This operation is very important! You can never be sure whether the new owner will have the dog neutered.
• Share: The ad should appear in as many places as possible. Search for websites and forums, groups on social networks etc. that deal with the adoption of dogs and share your ad with the description of the dog there.

• Adoption requirements: Adopting a dog means a lot of paperwork… Regulations differ depending on the state or country, so it is important to find out enough information.
• Visiting the new home: When you receive a request from a new family, you should survey the dog’s potential new home before they adopt him. It is best to visit the dog regularly even after it has moved in to make sure that the animal is doing well with its new owners.