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Originally Posted by orlnurse  Is it possible to have a visit so that both dogs can meet? Maybe on neutral territory first. |
The shelter where I volunteer INSISTS that adopters must bring their current dogs to meet the new dog. It's very important to see how they will interact. Though it doesn't have to be "love at first sight" you must be sure there won't be any aggression issues before you bring a new dog into your home.
As previous poster has said, there are lots of wonderful dogs who find themselves in a shelter or rescue. They haven't done anything wrong. Sometimes owners die and don't have family who will take them in, people have human babies and can't juggle the schedule of a baby and a dog, soldiers get deployed, etc. But also there are people who buy a puppy with no understanding of how much time and patience it takes to raise a puppy. So you will have some training to do with any new dog, but it is so fulfilling to know that you have given an innocent animal a second chance when his first owner let him down.