What to Expect When Adopting a Dog
A Guide to Successful Dog Adoption for Every Family
- 2016 INDIES Finalist
- Finalist, Pets & Animals (Adult Nonfiction)
This book shows that adopting a dog can reward you with years of companionship, joy, and unconditional love.
Whether you’re considering adopting a rescue dog or have already adopted a dog and want to be the best possible pet parent, Diane Rose-Solomon’s What to Expect When Adopting a Dog: A Guide to Successful Dog Adoption for Every Family has the information you need, from deciding whether or not you’re ready, to understanding the adoption process, to caring for your pet throughout its lifetime.
Twenty years ago, Rose-Solomon and her husband were set to purchase a purebred golden retriever when they fell in love with a puppy a friend had found sniffing around a garbage can. After a search didn’t turn up anyone looking for a lost pup, they brought him home, little expecting the impact he would make on their lives.
Rose-Solomon discovered that what makes a dog special is not its breed, size, or shape, but its “dogness.” “They don’t need any special papers or specific lineage to offer the unconditional love that only a dog can,” she writes. Upon learning about the millions of homeless animals that are euthanized every year, she became passionate about raising public awareness of animal overpopulation, neglect, and abuse. Her book makes clear the responsibilities involved with caring for a dog over the course of its lifetime as well as the considerable financial costs; such understanding can help to prevent impulsive adoptions that result in a dog being abandoned when its care becomes too costly or time-consuming.
Rose-Solomon is a Certified Humane Education Specialist through Humane Society University, a former rescue organization board member, a pet adoption volunteer, the author of humane education books, and, over the past twenty years, has been the parent of several rescued dogs. Her wealth of experience, together with that of other dog parents, pet professionals, and the best Internet articles on animal care, make this a comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to adopting and caring for a rescue dog.
The author does a great job of debunking some of the myths around rescue dogs to show how they can make wonderful companions. Her advocacy for the adoption of adult dogs, which many people incorrectly believe must be “damaged” in some way to have ended up in a shelter, makes good sense, as does her presentation of the pros and cons of adopting senior or even special-needs dogs.
The text is enhanced with delightful black-and-white illustrations, and the layout and design make reading a pleasure. Rose-Solomon carefully defines the terms she uses, makes it easy to find answers to questions, and suggests many ways to enhance the dog-human relationship. She presents everyday situations from a dog’s perspective as well as from a human’s, making it clear why a dog might exhibit certain behaviors while in a shelter, or while a adjusting to your home and family.
The book contains resources that can make the responsibilities of caring for a dog less burdensome. More than one hundred links to blogs, articles, and products are shared, so familiarity with the Internet is recommended. A conversational tone and personal stories of those who have adopted or fostered rescue dogs make the book not only informational, but also fun to read.
In What to Expect When Adopting a Dog, Diane Rose-Solomon helps alleviate the concern of so many people that adopting a rescue dog is “risky,” and shows how bringing one of these animals into your family may not only save its life, but can also reward you with years of companionship, joy, and unconditional love.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
