Animal shelters are run by counties, cities, towns, and private agencies. Sometimes a municipality will contract out these services to a shelter run by a humane organization, which takes in stray dogs and those turned in by their owners, making them available for adoption if they have not been claimed, usually after a week or ten days. By law, such publicly funded shelters need only to keep a dog an additional ten days before it may be euthanized.

Most dogs that end up in the shelter are beyond puppyhood. They are housebroken and have varying degrees of socialization and training. Like those available through breeder referral services, they have been given up for a myriad of reasons, ranging from misfortune and necessity to the purely frivolous. (“He grew too big.”) Once at the shelter, they receive the basics in vet care, including vaccinations. Some shelters spay or neuter, while others offer discount certificates for the surgery to those who adopt. Microchipping for permanent identification is also becoming common for shelter pets.

Obtaining a shelter dog should not be looked upon as a poor substitute for getting a purebred dog from a breeder. Even Hollywood trainers go looking for future canine stars at the shelter. (When Benji creator Joe Camp wanted to cast a new star for his 2002 sequel Benji Returns: From Rags to Riches, he conducted a three-month nationwide search for a shaggy little look-alike at shelters.)

Many pets are surrendered to the shelter because of behavior problems. When possible, shelter personnel work with such dogs to correct these problems to make them more adoptable. Due to budget and space constraints, this is far more likely to happen when services are contracted out to a humane society facility or when pets are held in a privately run shelter.

According to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), before you adopt a shelter pet, to ensure that you and the animal are a good fit, you should do the following:

• Spend some time with the dog that you are interested in. All members of the household should meet the prospective new family member (this includes your current dog, if you are looking to add a new dog).

• Complete an adoption application, and discuss it with an adoption counselor. This usually takes about forty-five minutes.

• If you are a homeowner, show proof of ownership (e.g., mortgage or tax bills).

• If you rent, have your landlord's written consent to bring an animal onto the property. This information will be verified before sending a new dog home.

• Be certain that you are financially able to provide for the animal's needs. This includes food, supplies, licensing, and veterinary care.

• Be certain that you have adequate time to spend with your new pet. This includes training, exercising, grooming, and loving.

• Understand that in order to give a dog the best possible chance for a good home, no animal may be placed on hold. You will need to complete the adoption process before that dog can be guaranteed to you.

The usual fee for adopting a dog at the shelter is around $100. When making a match, both parties need to participate in the process, so be sure to ask the shelter personnel a few questions yourself:

• Do you have any history on this dog?

• Has it been spayed or neutered?

• Does it get along with other dogs?

• What vaccinations has it had?

• Has it had any health problems while at the shelter?

• Has it had any training here, or can you refer me to a trainer?

• Do you have experts available for behavior consultations if I need them?

• If the adoption doesn't work out, can I bring it back?