Thinking about getting a dog?

There is nothing more exciting than adding a new pet to your family. The joy of deciding if you want a dog or cat or both and then figuring out which one to select is a huge milestone.

If you decide you want add a dog as your new family member I would ask you to consider an adult dog. I know cute little furry puppies are adorable and everybody loves a puppy, but there are so many advantages to adopting an adult dog.

To begin with, you already know how big they will be. With a puppy, unless you see both parents, which rarely happens, you’re rolling the dice if you have a specific size pet in mind. That fuzzy little ball of fur you thought would be a 20 pound Shih Tzu mix may grow up to be a sixty pound labradoodle mix.

With adult dogs, not only are their sizes not a mystery, they are also already past the bad puppy behaviors of chewing, accidents and vulnerability to parvo, the horrible deadly disease that claims so many puppies and young dogs.

An adult dog usually has a calm demeanor and is typically healthy. His goal in life is to love his family. The loyalty he shows to his family is unmatched.

If those are not reasons enough to choose an adult dog, the simplicity of finding one should be as well. In fact, my suggestion would be to visit Save a Pet’s fabulous new shelter, located at 618 Maynard Church Road in Forsyth. They have the most amazing healthy adult dogs who have been well cared for and are just waiting for families.

Here are just a few of some of the treasures at Save a Pet:

▪ Brandy is a German shepherd who could care less about chasing tennis balls or playing tug of war. Her only desire is to be close to you. She loves everyone and gets along well with other dogs as well. She is about 2 years old and weighs about 55 pounds. She is exceptionally bright and is learning basic obedience.

▪ Asher is a 3-year-old hound mix who is full of life, energy and love. He loves to cuddle and go for walks. Asher needs a special family who can be creative in keeping this guy happy and content while he continues his heartworm treatment.

▪ Mikey is an American bulldog mix male about a year old. He’s very well behaved and laid back. He also enjoys the outdoors and playing ball. He walks great on a leash, gets along with others and is very affectionate.

▪ Shine is a beautiful fawn colored Denmark feist who has striking golden eyes. She has a docked tail and weighs about 23 pounds. She is about a year old high-energy girl.

Any of these four dogs would be perfect to adopt. Won’t you give these babies a chance to join a loving family? Come on out to Save a Pet in Forsyth. Give them a call at (478) 994-3882 to make arrangements to see them.

And while you’re at it, make plans to join them on Wednesday, April 19 5:30-9 p.m. at Grits Cafe for the fundraiser, Noodles for Poodles. Proceeds help take care of the dogs at Save a Pet. Delicious food for a great cause.

This story was originally published April 7, 2017 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Thinking about getting a dog?."