Have you considered adopting a purebred Akita from your local animal shelter?

Shocked to learn that Akitas can be found in animal shelters? Akitas are not immune to misfortune.
The same careless attitudes that cause abandonment's for other breeds can be found in the
Akita fancy.  Read more.

Let's look at a handful of Akitas recently impounded in a few Los Angeles area shelters:

There was a young male named "Buttons" turned into a shelter for "digging." Shelter 
personnel and volunteers found him to be very friendly and trustworthy, certainly not a 
candidate for euthanasia. Buttons died when he went into a state of depression after 
waiting for weeks without finding a home.  "Digging" is an easily corrected though 
natural canine behavior.  Certainly not a reason to kill an Akita.

Spend a moment looking at the faces of Akitas that died--not for aggression or
behavior problems but because there are too many dogs. Not enough people
are willing to visit  their local shelters to adopt, believing falsely that all shelter dogs are discards.

 Why adopt a dog from a shelter when I can get a puppy?

If you plan to show your purebred Akita in AKC shows, you should purchase a puppy from a reputable, professional breeder. If you're looking for a friend, a companion, the benefits of contacting a shelter are many. Shelters with active volunteers spend a great deal of time with the animals. They can give you an idea about temperament, personality and level of training. As mentioned, these dogs are already housebroken, have some basic obedience and make wonderful companions. They have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and given a health check. The work has already been done for you!

By adopting an Akita from an animal shelter, you are literally saving a life. There are a few no-kill shelters throughout the country but the majority of animal shelters are kill shelters. Certainly that's not by choice but necessity. Shelters can house only a limited number of animals. To make room for incoming animals, they allow each dog a short time for adoption. If the Akita is not adopted within that time frame, it is killed. A lot of Akitas are dying in animal shelters--a consequence of popularity.

What is involved in adopting a dog from a shelter?

Very little. Most shelters spay or neuter before the dog is allowed to leave. It will be vaccinated  but that's about all the veterinary care it will receive. Some shelters will give you a certificate for  a free veterinary check then you're on your own. The cost of adoption is different in each city and state but generally, it costs less than $100. Humane societies may require a house check similar to the rescue groups but municipal shelters are too understaffed to undertake investigations before adoption.

Now what? Where do I find a shelter?

You can look in your phone book under "Humane Society," or "animal shelter." You can call your local Chamber of Commerce or ask at the nearest pet supply store. You can do a search online. Nearly every community has some facility to house homeless animals.  Your loyal Akita waits for you in one of those shelters.

© 2000 Barbara Bouyet