Dog Costs:

More likely than not, the adopting agency will charge a fee to help defray the cost of taking in homeless or lost animals. The adoption fee you pay will be a tiny fraction of the money you will spend over the life of your dog.
You may need to pay for your adopted dog to be spayed or neutered before bringing him or her home.
Some expenses are mandatory for all dogs, including:
- Food
- Routine veterinary care
- Licensing according to local regulations
- Collars, leashes and identification tags
- Basic grooming equipment and supplies
Other expenditures may not be required but are highly recommended:
- Permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo
- Training classes
- Additional grooming supplies or professional grooming (depending on your new dog's needs)
- A spare collar or leash
- A bed and toys
- A crate or carrier
Unexpected costs: Accidents and illness can result in costly emergency veterinary care. Recovery tools for finding a missing dog can include posters and rewards.
A dog with special physical or behavioral challenges may require specialized professional support to overcome any obstacles these issues present.
For more on typical dog care costs visit Annual Dog Care Costs.

Time Considerations:

Dogs need to be fed two to three times a day, more often in the case of puppies, and need a constant supply of fresh water.
A responsible dog parent should spend at least one hour per day giving direct attention to his or her dog. This may include training, exercising, grooming, and playing or, with cats, it may just be lap time on the couch. Dogs will need to be taken out to potty several times a day.
A dog with an abundance of energy needs more time to exercise and interactive toys to keep them entertained.
Dogs with long coats may need 20 minutes a day of grooming to prevent matting.
Dogs with certain medical conditions may need additional attention, including specifically timed injections in the case of diabetic animals.
Remember that adopted dogs may need additional bonding and reassurance time in the early weeks.

Shopping Checklist:

It may be a good idea to wait until you select your new dog before you begin shopping for supplies. For example, some items, such as food and water bowls or collars and harnesses, depend upon the size of the dog you will be adopting.

Also, be sure to find out which food your dog was eating in the shelter or foster home so that you can provide the same in the beginning, again to ease the transition. After the dog has settled in, talk with your veterinarian about switching to the food of your choice.

Once you've selected your dog, here's a checklist of supplies you may need:

Necessary Items for Dogs:

Food and water bowls
Food (canned and/or dry)
Collar
Four to six-foot leash
ID tag with your phone number
Hard plastic carrier or foldable metal crate
Dog bed
Doggy shampoo and conditioner
Nail clippers
Canine toothbrush and toothpaste
Brush or comb (depends on your dog's coat length and type)
Super-absorbent paper towels
Sponge and scrub brush
Non-toxic cleanser
Enzymatic odor neutralizer
Plastic poop baggies (biodegradable ones are best) or pooper scooper
Absorbent house-training pads
Variety of toys (a ball, rope, chew toy and puzzle toy are good starts)
Variety of treats (such as small biscuits, larger rawhides, etc.)
First-aid supplies
Baby gate(s)

Dog Adoption Checklist

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