Benefits of Adopting a Dog or Puppy

You've decided you want to get a dog. Have you considered adopting your dog or puppy from your local SPCA? Rescue organizations carefully evaluate dogs coming to rescue to ensure they are placed in appropriate homes. Some things to consider:

•	Rescue Dogs may have been in a foster home for a number of days and their caretakers have a general idea if there are potty issues.
•	Older dogs have already gone through the "teething stage" and are content chewing on a dog toy or bone...
•	When you adopt an older dog, you can pick a dog that is as active, large or small, goofy or brilliant as fits your lifestyle.
•	Adult dogs are instant companions. You don't have to wait until they grow up to take them everywhere with you.
•	Dogs that have been uprooted from a previous home tend to bond quickly and deeply with a new owner. Rescue groups work diligently to match you with the right dog so everyone involved lives happily ever after.
•	Your commitment to making the relationship work is the key to its success. Understanding that this living being is counting on you to give of your time to make it work. Training and transition into your lifestyle takes time. Unconditional love is a gift that comes with it.

Well they sure knew how to get my attention for my photo shoot ... all it took was one little treat!! Well ... actually more than just one, cause I love treats. Hi there, my name is Caesar. I am a male Boston Terrier mix about 4 years old. Now don't think that I am a teeny tiny lap dog because I am a Boston Terrier MIX, I probably weigh 30 - 35 pounds. But that is 30 - 35 pounds of pure sweetness, obedience, fun and love. I came to the SPCA as a stray wearing the blue collar that you see in this picture, so somebody owned me. But no one has come looking for me. I know how to sit and I love attention. I should not go to a home with children under 5 because I am full of energy and could possibly knock them down ... not on purpose of course. I hope you will come by and meet me and hopefully we will hit it off and my stay here won't be very long.

Hey there, my name is Shady. I am a female Chocolate Lab and I am about 9 years old. No spring chicken, but I still love to play and run around. Somehow I ended up being brought in to the SPCA as a stray, but I couldn't have been out on the streets for very long, because I have definitely been eating somewhere. In fact, the girls here told me that I could stand to lose a few pounds. Of course you never ask a girl how much she weighs ... so I didn't have to reveal that information. I'm not going to let this stray thing get me down, I am just happy to know that the staff here cares about me and are going to help me find a new home. I am just a big happy lovebug who loves her belly rubbed and would be perfect for any family.

Hi there, my name is Oakley. I am sure you have heard my story on the CBS21 TV station and the local newspapers. I am a 4 year old Border Collie who arrived as a stray at the Adams County SPCA with a bright green rubberband tied around my private parts. Yes, it was extremely painful and it has been a long recovery for me. I have had to have two emergency surgeries and it has been a really rough time in my life. Humane Officer Brandi Luther said whoever tied the rubberband can be charged with failure to seek proper medical treatment for an animal in their care. I sure hope justice will be served for doing such a horrible thing to me. I have learned to get past the pain and suffering and am ready to start a new life over again! I want to thank each and everyone of you from the bottom of my heart for helping to pay for my surgeries and to the Frederick Veterinary Hospital for taking such good care of me at all hours of the night. I still love people. I am just a real sweet, loving guy and will make an absolute wonderful family companion. Please come by and meet me ... I just know life is going to get better!!!

Hi there, my name is Maggy. I am a female Jack Russell Terrier about 4 - 5 years old. I was brought in as a stray wearing a collar, but no one has called looking for me. A lot of the other dogs in the shelter told me the same thing has happened to them and some of them have been here months. Gosh, I sure hope that I'm not here that long because I could really use some TLC. I am a Jack Russell but don't let that fool you, I want to be a lap dog. I will chase after a ball every now and then, but I prefer to be on your lap. Love to have my belly rubbed too, gosh I'm starting to sound like one of those little dogs that like to ride around in a pocketbook ... no that's not me, but I am very affectionate and I sure hope to find a new home soon!!!

Well hello there, I'm the new gal here and my name is Duchess. I am a female Shepherd mix and I am only about 8 months old. Just a youngster!! I'm not sure how I ended up here at the SPCA it just happened. One day I have a home, the next day I'm being picked up by someone and drove away. I sure hope staying at this place is just a temporary thing ... because I don't get to get out and run and play very much. I love to play, ball is a lot of fun too, I will even bring the back to you ... sometimes, hey you need to chase after the ball sometimes too, it takes two. I would love to find a real nice family who would love to spend time with me, I just love everybody and would be sooo appreciative if you would bring me into your home. We could be lifelong friends. So please come on by and meet me, ya never know we could be perfect for each other!!!

Hello there, my name is Oliver. I am a male Chihuahua mix and I am around 4 years old ... give or take some. The staff here has to just guess the age on us strays, truth be known I hold my age very well. No wrinkles, bright white teeth, bouncy personality, not an ounce of body fat ...just one handsome dude!!! You might think that my picture was staged, ya know with the ball sitting right in front of me, well I was just waiting for the photographer to come get the ball and throw it again. Playing ball is my favorite past time, well ... except hanging out with the ladies. In case you noticed my one leg is wrapped up with some blue tape and that is because they had to draw blood from me to check for heartworm - I am negative and ready to go to my new home. I will need to go to a home without small children because I can be a little mouthy sometimes, ya know the little guy syndrome. So, if you are ready for a little sweet guy to move in with you, I hope you will consider me!!!!!

Hi there, my name is Prince. Prince Charming that is ... did I say that out loud??? Oops - back to reality, I am a male Poodle about two - three years old and I was dropped off in the police pen one night. So no one knows if I was a stray or if my owners dumped me. But ya know what, that doesn't really matter. What really matters is that I am a very sweet, lovable, real fun guy who would do anything in the world for you. I would give you the shirt off of my back if I had one. How about a dog biscuit??? We can help each other out, I can give you lots and lots of fun and you can give me a nice home. Sounds like a deal to me!!! Deal??

Hi there, my name is Jade. I am a female Terrier mix about 4 - 5 years old. I was brought in to the SPCA as a stray, many days ago, wearing a pretty collar with a "bling" dog bone tag with diamonds. Ahh diamonds, a girl's best friend! Well for me, that is only true if my family would have come looking for me. I am still in shock ... that here I sit. What's a gal to do??? You just have to get over it and hope to find a better home. So the search is on. I am a perfect example of a "lap dog". I get a wild hair occasionally and run around like I'm nuts, but that doesn't last long, then I'm in your lap just happy to hang out with my loved ones. I have to be picky about who my new family will be, so I will not be able to go to a home with children under the age of 12 because I can be a little mouthy. Nobody's perfect - right??? I hope to meet you real soon so I can start the selection process for my new home!!! Talk soon!!!

Thanks to all of you who donated towards my surgery and to Dr. Dickey at Confederate Woods Veterinary Clinic! I feel soo much better and look better. Words cannot describe how happy you have made me feel! Thanks soo much and I love you guys!!!

Toby
AFTER SURGERY

It has been a rough road for me lately, well actually it's been rough my whole life. Hi, my name is Toby. My lucky day came the day the wonderful Humane Officer of the Adams County SPCA was called to my house. Due to the neglectful situation I was living in, she requested me to be surrendered to the SPCA ... not only me, but 5 other dogs and a turkey. We all got lucky that day. I was immediately taken to the vet to get the worst, painful mats cut out of my ears and feet. I had dreadlocks and guess what they found in one of my ears ... wire mesh the size of a Post It notepad, it was causing my ear to bleed. It was very painful. The vet said that my eye with the big red blob can be fixed (it's what they call cherry eye), it won't be cheap though. I know it looks kind of ugly but looks aren't everything, it's the personality too and I have a very loving personality. I am making up for lost time. 9 years of lost time. That's how old I am, 9 years old and this is the happiest I have ever been. Just yesterday I was taken to this Grooming place and they really got me looking good, the girls were shocked. I actually have beautiful fur, kind of freckled. I can't wait to find a new home with a loving family to spend the rest of my years with.

We would like to have Toby's cherry eye fixed and are looking for donations for his surgery. If you would like to donate towards his surgery please click below.

Howdy folks, my name is Fred. You might not be able to tell from my picture, but I am a Bassett Hound. The photographer didn't get a shot of my whole body, but she sure got me smiling from ear to ear because let me tell you what ... I am one happy guy! I am no longer living in the horrible conditions that I have been living in for so long. Life is great!!!! I am getting treated like royalty around here. I love the Humane Officer, Brandi, for getting us out of the home (if you want to call it that) that we were living at (not in, because we were not living inside). Just today, the girls had me outside playing and were giving me treats, my gosh I love treats (I sure was missing all the good stuff in my prior life). I may have suffered the first part of my life ... but I'm feeling like that is all about to change! And I can't wait!!!!

Hi there, my name is Precious. I am a female Pit Bull about one year old who is absolutely precious ... why do you think they named me Precious when I came through the door as a stray. The girls had to come up with a name that would fit me ... yes I sound full of myself but it is my coping mechanism for being dropped off here at the shelter. I have been having a little bit of fun here when the girls have time, but they are soo busy that it is hard to get some one on one time, but when I do, look out ... I LOVE to play with a rope. I have told everyone that it is a requirement for anyone that takes me outside to take a rope with us to play. And then the fun begins ... leaping through the air, chasing the rope and just hanging out. Come on by so we can meet ... don't forget a rope!!!!

Howdy there folks, my name is Mac. I am new here at the shelter and I am posting this ad in hopes that you will want to adopt me and give me a new home. I am a male Beagle mix and I was found running as a stray. No family, no home and nowhere to go. How could this possibly happen to me??? I have no idea, but I am keeping my paws crossed that my lucky day will come soon and I can have a good life. I did get to meet a lot of really nice kids at the Gettysburg Outlets this weekend. There was a Kids Fun & Safety Day going on and I was chosen to go. Deep down I had my hopes set that I would find a new family that day, but it didn't happen. I just hope that some people start coming and adopting some of us, because the shelter is very crowded right now with dogs and cats galore and we all need homes. If you can find room in your home for another companion please be sure and come by.

Hi everybody, my name is Diablo. I am a 1 year old male mixed breed and I was surrendered to the SPCA by the request of the Humane Officer. And let me tell you, my life has become much better. I have a nice comfortable place to sleep, good food and lots of company. What more could a guy ask for ... well I can think of one thing, to have a home of my own and a family to love!!! I am very well behaved, I don't jump, I sit, the girls had to pull lots of ticks off of me and I just sat there. I sure was glad to get all those little blood sucking ticks off of me, I feel 100% better. Life is good!!! I am a happy go lucky young boy just looking for a new place to call home!!! I'm not looking back, just forward and hoping for a bright new future!!!

Well it's me, Nemo again!!! I was adopted and wouldn't ya know it, they brought me back because I don't get along with the cat. That darn cat (isn't there a movie called that)? Anyway, I am a male Black Lab about 1 - 1 1/2 years old who has not had a very good start in life. I have lived my whole life outside - with no shelter. Not much of a life. So, I am hoping that my life is going to get better and to have a family that will love me and have me live inside with them. It was really awful being stuck outside and seeing my family and wanting soo bad to have some companionship, to be petted, to have a ball thrown for me, to be cared about. I get lots of attention here, but I can't wait to have my very own family to love. I will be patiently waiting because I know that someone will come through those doors and pick me to be their devoted companion.

Hi there, my name is Able. I am another one of the 7 dogs that spent the night together in a very small police pen. It was a night that I would soon like to forget ... it was the night that my family just dumped all 7 of us because they weren't allowed to have us. They even dumped 4 little baby pups. Hopefully I will get a better life and be happy once again. The staff here keep reassuring me that I will find a new family soon. They tell me they love my tongue ... I guess it's got some really neat spots on it, is what they tell me. I am going to have to find a mirror around here somewhere so that I can check them out. I heard someone today say that I was "handsome", and that really made me feel good. I feel very fortunate that I have somewhere to live right now and I think life is looking brighter for me!!!!

My pictures are getting better and better everytime!!! But you know what ... I'm hoping that this will be the last picture retake and that I will finally find a new home!!! What do you think??? My name is Missy, and I had to request a picture retake because the picture with my eyes closed just wasn't working. So ... hopefully someone will actually see how pretty I am and not goofy looking like the other picture. Enough about the picture, I was found as a stray and I am looking for a new home. I am a very sweet Pit Bull about 2 years old. I know that Pit Bulls have a bad rap, but if you would just give me a chance. You will see that I am a very sweet young lady and we could be soo happy together. Please come on by and meet me ... I will be waiting.

To download an application click one of the following links, these links are also on Applications page.
Adopt a Dog or Puppy
Application form for MS Word
Application form for PDF Format

Foster a Dog or Puppy
Application form for MS Word
Application form for PDF Format