Celebrate National Dog Day (8/26) with Adoption Tips Plus Expert Insight

It's an alarming statistic: over 3.9 million dogs enter animal shelters nationwide every year, yet only 31% of these dogs are adopted. Rescuing a pet can benefit not only the animal, but the new owners as well.

In honor of National Dog Day on Friday, August 26^th, Erin Askeland, Training and Behavioral Expert at Camp Bow Wow, North America's largest and most trusted pet care franchise, has offered her insights regarding the benefits of pet adoption and important factors to consider.

Why Adopt a Dog? You're Saving a Life - According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.9 million dogs enter shelters every year-and each year, 1.2 million dogs are euthanized. Bottom line: Adopting a pet saves their life. You're giving an animal a home that they wouldn't have otherwise.

It Reduces Stress - Some studies show that people begin to feel less anxious after spending less than an hour with an animal. Research has also found that owning a dog can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost levels of feel-good chemicals in the brain. In some cases, therapists suggest to patients suffering from depression that they adopt a pet. An animal will love you unconditionally and also be a great friend and listener.

You're Never Too Old to Adopt - A key to a healthy mind, especially for those who are elderly, is staying engaged with others. A pet is often a conversation starter and being out with a pet can spark friendly social conversations with passersby. Bringing your dog to a dog park is a great way to stay active and meet other people with similar interests.

Factors to Consider: What is the right breed for me? Different breeds have different characteristics, behavior types and energy levels. It will help to understand the energy of your household, the size of dog that you can handle, how much exercise you are able to provide and more. If your family tends to be very low key, a low energy dog might be a better fit. Similarly, if you live in a small space, a small or medium size dog might be better for your family. In addition, if there are elderly members in a household, a less active dog might mesh best with the entire clan. It is important to consider all of these variables before choosing your new pup.

Who will care for the new pet? Adopting a pet comes with a new set of responsibilities, which will be shared by members of your household. A good rule of thumb: the new pet should fit the current physical capabilities of the caretakers with a perspective for what the next 10-15 years will bring, so it's important to keep the ages of your family in mind. If you have children in your household, enrolling your new pup and family members into an obedience class with an experienced trainer can help them learn how to safely interact with the new pup.

Does the whole family agree? Although it is exciting to surprise the family with a new pet, be sure to do some research and poll each member to find out what they are looking for in a potential pup so that the pet you choose aligns with the household. Once you all have decided on a breed that suits the family's requirements, the best approach is to bring the whole gang to meet the potential new pet and gauge how they all interact.

Are you financially ready for this responsibility? While the cost of a new pet can go from "free-to-a-good-home" to several thousand dollars, keeping a long-term budget in mind can help prevent you from feeling overwhelmed in the long run and little savings can go a long way. It's helpful to be financially prepared for immediate costs like veterinary check-ups and food for your pup. When it comes to long-term expenses, pet insurance can save you money in the event of a veterinary emergency.