Looking for a New Best Friend? Adoptable Dogs Are Coming to Brandon Saturday |
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is bringing adoptable dogs to Brandon this weekend, giving local families a chance to meet a potential new companion close to home. |
By Ralph
Sometimes finding a new best friend starts with a photograph on a website.
This Saturday, it could start with walking through the doors of a Brandon pet store.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is bringing adoptable dogs to the PetSmart at 1051 W. Brandon Blvd. on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. for a PetSmart Charities Adopt Joy event.
The idea is simple:
Bring dogs who need homes out into the community and give Brandon-area residents an opportunity to meet them.
And perhaps one of those meetings ends with somebody saying:
“You're coming home with us.” Meeting Them Changes Everything
Online adoption listings are useful.
You can see a photograph.
Read an age.
Learn a breed—or at least someone's best guess at one.
But a profile can't completely tell you what happens when you actually meet an animal.
Does the dog immediately walk over?
Hang back and study you?
Want to play?
Lean against your leg?
That's why an in-person adoption event can be valuable.
The Humane Society says the Brandon event will feature adoptable dogs available to meet inside the store. Humane Society of Tampa Bay
There is no guarantee, of course, that the right dog for your household will be there.
But you'll never know without meeting them. Before You Fall in Love With Those Eyes
Here's our advice:
Use your head before letting your heart make the entire decision.
A dog isn't something you bring home because it looked adorable on Saturday afternoon.
It's a commitment that can last well over a decade.
Before adopting, think seriously about your household.
Do you have enough time for a dog?
How much exercise can you realistically provide?
Do you have children?
Other pets?
A fenced yard—or are you prepared for daily walks?
Can your budget handle food, routine veterinary care, medications, grooming and unexpected medical expenses?
And perhaps the most overlooked question:
Does this particular dog's energy level fit your actual lifestyle?
Not the lifestyle you intend to start next Monday.
The one you're living today. Ask Questions
When you meet an adoptable dog, don't be afraid to ask what the organization knows.
How old is the dog?
What has its temperament been like?
Has it lived with other dogs?
What about cats?
Children?
Does it have known medical needs?
Has staff observed any behavioral concerns?
What kind of exercise does it appear to need?
The Humane Society's regular dog-adoption program includes a meeting with an adoption coordinator, giving prospective adopters an opportunity to review information and ask questions before taking an animal home.
Not every question will necessarily have an answer.
Shelters don't always know an animal's complete history.
But ask anyway. What Comes With a Humane Society Dog?
Dogs adopted through the Humane Society of Tampa Bay's regular adoption program are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and dewormed before going home.
That's worth factoring into the decision when comparing adoption with obtaining a dog through other means.
Current standard HSTB dog-adoption fees are listed as $250 for puppies three months and younger, $130 for adult dogs over three months through eight years, and $50 for senior dogs over eight years. The Humane Society also currently offers people 65 and older a 50% discount on adoption fees for adult dogs and cats.
Because special-event arrangements can vary, we'd recommend confirming the applicable adoption fee and requirements with HSTB representatives at Saturday's event before making a decision. Don't Overlook the Older Dog
Puppies have an unfair advantage.
They're puppies.
Big paws.
Floppy ears.
That unmistakable puppy face.
But don't automatically walk past the adult or senior dog.
An older dog may already have a more established personality, making it easier to judge whether that animal fits your household.
A senior dog may require less of the nonstop activity that comes with raising a puppy.
And sometimes the animal that gets overlooked because it isn't eight weeks old is exactly the companion someone needs.
Give them a chance to introduce themselves. Everybody in the House Should Be Ready
If you're adopting a family pet, make it a family decision.
The children promising they'll walk the dog every morning before school?
Have that conversation again.
The spouse who said, “Absolutely no dogs”?
Probably don't surprise them with one.
And if you already have pets, think carefully about how another animal will affect the household.
A successful adoption isn't simply about getting a dog out of rescue.
It's about finding a home where that dog can stay. What If Saturday Isn't Your Day?
Don't force it.
If you attend and none of the dogs feels like the right match, that's perfectly fine.
There will be other dogs.
The Humane Society maintains current adoptable-dog listings online and says its regular adoptions are handled same-day on a first-come, first-served basis at its campuses.
PetSmart Charities also has National Adoption Week scheduled for Oct. 19–25, creating additional opportunities later this month to meet pets through participating stores and adoption partners.
The goal isn't to leave Saturday with a dog.
It's to eventually leave with the right dog. Know Before You Go
PetSmart Charities Adopt Joy Event — Brandon When: Saturday, Oct. 10
Humane Society of Tampa Bay event calendar Maybe You'll Just Look
That's what people say.
“We're only going to look.”
“We're not getting another dog.”
“We just want to see who's there.”
Then a dog walks over.
Maybe there's a wagging tail.
Maybe a nose pushes against your hand.
Maybe the dog sits down beside you as though the two of you had arranged the meeting weeks ago.
And suddenly, the conversation changes.
If you're genuinely ready to give a dog a permanent home, Saturday afternoon might be worth a trip down Brandon Boulevard.
You may walk into PetSmart simply to meet some rescue dogs.
You might walk out having met your new best friend.
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