The Adoption Option
by Eliza Rubenstein and Shari Kalina
Published by Howell Book House

Reviewed by Bobbi Pasternak, RNC

The Adoption Option by Eliza Rubenstein and Shari Kalina is a guide to choosing and raising a dog or puppy from a shelter. Millions of homeless dogs and puppies are killed in American animal shelters annually. If you're one of those humans who'd like to do help by providing a loving home for a stray or abandoned canine, this book is for you. The Adoption Option is full of practical information and should be required reading for anyone considering bringing a dog or puppy into their home.

The book is organized to present the steps a well-informed person should take when going through the adoption process. The authors emphasize that the decision to adopt a dog or puppy should never be made in haste. Many dogs end up at the shelter in the first place because humans failed to do their homework and take time for careful consideration of the impact a dog would have on their lives. The first chapter covers the topics which should be considered in deciding if a dog should be brought into your home. They include time, space, cost, family members, other animals in the household, and the need for a long-term committment.

Once you've decided that adopting a dog is the right thing to do, The Adoption Option teaches you how to go about doing it. Chapters are devoted to determining what kind of dog is best, how to choose a shelter, and how to visit the shelter and choose a dog or puppy. The authors advise being well-prepared and avoiding the "Love at First Sight" method of adoption. The remainder of the book covers life with your new canine companion, including bringing the dog home, canine education, and other issues involved in long-term life with a dog. Interspersed throughout the book are "Success Stories" in which people who have adopted shelter dogs share their experiences.

While the stories and the book are upbeat, the authors do not pretend that every adoption is a success story or that successful adoptions of dogs who may have a checkered past are always easy. They stress the committment, time, and caring that every dog needs and deserves from their human companions. For people wishing to bring a dog into their lives, reading The Adoption Option and carefully following the authors' advice will certainly increase your chances of success.