Best Places To Adopt A Dog In Baltimore

Man's best friend comes in many breeds, shapes, sizes and colors. When looking to add a canine to the family, always first consider adopting an animal from an area animal shelter. Dogs and other animals that are up for adoption at a shelter have been given a full medical check-up and have been evaluated on their social behaviors with other animals, children and people in general. Everything from puppies to mature dogs can be found at shelters. However, if you're looking for a puppy of a specific breed, make sure to do the research on breeders on local or state kennel club websites. Check to make sure breeders have exemplary reputations. Ask questions about health guarantees. Get references from vets. Visit the kennel. Interact with the pup's mother, the dam; and if possible, the father, the sire. Are the pups raised in the home of the breeder or a kennel, (home-raised pups are the most sociable)? Play with the puppy to make sure it is socialized. Check out these Baltimore locations — you might just find your next best friend.

Poodles By Design
8256 Rippling Branch Road
Laurel, Md. 20723
(301) 483-0153
www.poodlesbydesign.biz

Poodles By Design breeds "Living Works of Art," according to owners David and Betty VanCott. All puppies are AKC registered. A member of the ASPCA, Poodles By Design breeds toy, tiny toy and teacup poodles in their home. The pups come in a variety of colors — sable, brindle, parti and phantom. The breeder's goal is to provide the best puppies in terms of health and disposition. Check the website links for the "puppy gallery," "meet the parents" and the "nursery." Prices and other information are also available online.

Baltimore Animal Rescue And Care Shelter
301 Stockholm St.
Baltimore, Md. 21230
(410) 396-4695
www.baltimoreanimalshelter.org

"Caring for all animals in need" is the mission of the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, BARCS. A nonprofit organization, BARCS provides pet licenses, rescue services, lost and found directory, inexpensive vaccination and microchip services, as well as spay and neuter services. Annually, BARCS accepts more than 11,000 dogs, cats, exotic animals and wildlife at its facility. Puppies and kittens are often available. In 2012, 4,696 animals were adopted from BARCS. The website provides links to photos and information about adoptable dogs and cats.

Charm City Puppies & Boutique
8205 Snowden River Parkway, Unit D
Columbia, Md. 21045
(410) 203-0000
www.charmcitypuppies.com

A relatively new addition to the dog breeders network of Baltimore, Charm City Puppies & Boutique opened its doors in January 2012. A family-owned business, it was created to provide quality, healthy puppies to area residents. All puppies are supplied by respected breeders in the area. The store layout was designed for the purpose of socializing puppies. All puppies have up-to-date vaccinations and health examinations. The business carries a variety of pure breed dogs, including dachshund, English bulldog, golden retriever, German shepherd, Maltese and others. All puppies come with a one-year warranty that covers any unidentified hereditary problems.

Cloned Sniffer Dogs Begin Training — (Credit: Getty Images)

Promiseland Goldens
Pasadena, Md.
(410) 255-7150
www.promiselandgoldens.com

Promiseland is a family-owned golden retriever breeder. The business began breeding Chesapeake Bay retrievers and English labs, but they switched to goldens several years ago. The breeding line currently includes European goldens. Pups are bred for health, appearance and temperament. All pups come with a promise of lifetime support. All pups are hand-raised and interact with children to socialize them before they are sold. The breeder also provides a stud service. The website provides information on puppies available, breeding plans, history of golden retrievers and more.

Maryland SPCA
3300 Falls Road
Baltimore, Md. 21211
(410) 235-8826
www.mdspca.org

Each year, more than 3,000 animals are adopted from the Maryland SPCA in the greater Baltimore metro area. In addition to providing rescue services for dogs, cats and many other animals, the nonprofit organization provides educational programs for the care of animals. Offering pet training and behavior counseling services, the organization also provides low cost spay and neuter services. In addition to adult animals, which need homes, the organization frequently has pups available for adoption. The website provides links to listings of animals available for adoption, a lost and found database and other information and services.

Jeffrey B. Roth has won numerous state and national news and feature-writing awards during his career. A well-known crime writer, investigative reporter and a feature writer, Roth writes for a number of magazines and newspapers. Listed in the Locus Index of SciFi and Fantasy authors, Roth is the author of a number of published short stories and poetry. His work can be found on Examiner.com.