Welcoming a Dog Into Your Family

As social distancing and isolating continues due to the seemingly never ending COVID-19 pandemic, many people are looking to welcome a dog into their households for support, companionship and love.

I started a search for a dog to foster in June, but all the shelters and rescues didn’t have any left to offer. The demand had gotten so high that fostering didn’t seem to be an option. It seemed like consumer demand for dogs was at an all time peak.

I also looked into permanently adopting a pup, but again came up short. I wanted to be able to meet a dog before committing to adopt it, but due to the virus this was impossible.

I ended up doing some research on breeds of dogs that would fit my situation, single, living in a two-story townhouse with no yard but plenty of options for walks and at home enough to train and care for a puppy.

A husky or chow chow, two of my favorite breeds, were too big to be comfortable in my 1000 square foot home. I liked the look and size of a pomsky, a cross between a Siberian husky and a Pomeranian, but found that there weren’t any breeders close enough to drive to pick one up and the online breeder businesses had a lot of negative reviews.

I found the perfect fit in the Alaskan klee kai, a companion size dog resembling the larger Alaskan husky. My search also led me to Desarie Alvarado, owner of Kikas Klee Kai in Riverside. She started her company after spotting a klee kai at Home Depot and owning one for several years. I visited her and a bunch of pups one afternoon and also fell in love with every pup I held. Each of the pups and older dogs had lots of space to roam and were healthy happy dogs.

I asked Desarie what to consider when getting a dog during the pandemic.

“It’s important to consider what will happen to the dog when you go back to work. If you are home for several months and your dog gets accustomed to you always at home and then all of a sudden you are no longer home all day, your dog is going to suffer,” she said. “Be sure to think about the long term when getting a dog or any pet.”

Whether you buy or adopt a new dog, it’s important to start training it as soon as possible. “Many people think that puppies can roam around your entire house once you get them home,” said Alvarado. “You need to begin to provide structure right away and provide boundaries and positive reinforcements.”

If you are going to purchase a dog, It’s also important to get a puppy from an ethical and responsible breeder. It’s important to make sure that a new puppy is healthy and that the breeder has a health guarantee. “The first 8 weeks of a puppy’s life is a crucial part of their mental and physical development. Ensuring you add a well rounded, socialized and mentally stimulate puppy to your family is going to give you the best foundation for adding a wonderful new family member to your home,” said Alvarado.

If your thinking about adopting a dog, you can contact a local animal rescue or shelter to inquire about availability, waiting lists and the application process. A few in the WeHo area are Vanderpump Dogs, https://www.vanderpumpdogs.org and Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue at https://acesangels.org.

Find out more about Kika’s Klee Kais at www.kikaskleekai.com.