October 21, 2008

Labrador Rescue Centres: Before And After

by Brooke Sunderland

It is a sad fact, but animal shelters are becoming more and more common with each passing day. Animal abuse has reached unprecedented levels, and the abused dogs invariably end up in rescue centres, fearful and distrustful of human beings. Abused dogs are hard to place in new homes. Finding owners willing and able to supply the love and patience necessary is difficult.

Other people simply discover that they do not have the time to pay attention to their adopted dogs. Labrador Retrievers are energetic and enthusiastic dogs, and many owners cannot learn to control them, so they choose to take them to animal shelters so someone else can deal with them.

Adopting a Labrador from a rescue centre not only goes a long way in helping to deal with this problem, but it is also a rewarding experience for you as the new owner. It is important to know that the adoption may not go as smoothly as you would like. Expect this, but don’t go into it with expectations that are too high. If you have the time and patience to invest in your adopted pet, then you will almost certainly have gained a loyal and loving friend.

Choosing the right rescue centre can make all the difference sometimes. Sadly, many rescue centres are little better than the homes that these wayward animals have come from in the first place. It’s important to look for animal shelters that are staffed by loving and attentive individuals.

If you’re looking to adopt from your local Labrador rescue centre, it’s important to be sure that they’ve received the attention ? medical and otherwise ? that they need and deserve. Look for staff that genuinely care about these animals, and have the knowledge to treat them if they are sick or injured. It is common for abused Labradors in shelters to become distrustful or hostile towards human beings. This pattern can be reversed, but it takes dedication and time. Labradors are among the most loyal dog breeds, but it could take some time to earn their trust if they’ve had negative experiences in the past.

A common mistake that prospective adopters make after picking up their dog from the Labrador rescue centre is expecting love at first sight. Just as humans have to become comfortable around new faces, Labradors also need time to get to know you. Also, it’s important not to expect too much from your Labrador right away.

Don’t expect too much of them right away, and don’t be discouraged if things don’t go smoothly at first. The worst thing you can do is give up too early. Take the time to make sure your Labrador becomes comfortable in its new surroundings before you introduce young children, other pets or training.

But most importantly, don’t give up too soon. Things often get off to rocky starts when one adopts a Labrador from a rescue centre. It will take time for the dog to get used to its new home and its new human caretakers. Show some patience and some love, and the payoff will be well worth it in the end.

About the Author:

Brooke Sunderland is a passionate lover of the Labrador and owns a popular website where you’ll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Labrador. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Labrador Rescue Centres plus a whole lot more.