Give dogs a second chance and a loving home

Animal Shelter Dogs

There are various reasons why dogs can no longer stay in their homes and end up in a shelter. Sometimes a dog can’t get along with children, the owner lacked the right knowledge, or simply didn’t have enough time. Unfortunately, these situations lead to dogs being surrendered to shelters. In other cases, the financial burden of owning a dog becomes too much for the owner to handle. Most dogs arrive at the shelter as strays — they’ve been abandoned on the streets, and the animal ambulance brings them in. Once a dog is found, the team from the dog department works to find it a new, loving home.

Introduction

Adopting a dog can be a wonderful way to welcome a new life into your family. However, it’s important to be well-prepared before adopting a pet. We’d like to inform you about how dog adoption works and what common behavioral issues to expect. Being well-prepared ensures that a shelter dog gets a real second chance and that you’re ready to offer it a loving home.

Looking for Dogs

If you’re looking for a dog, we recommend checking the websites of different animal shelters. Many shelters display the available dogs on their websites, along with photos and descriptions, so you can see whether a particular dog fits your home situation. You can also fill out a form online to schedule an appointment.

Adopting Dogs

During your appointment, the caretakers will provide you with all the information about the dog. Since the dog has been in their care, they’ve gotten to know its behavior well. Is the dog social with other dogs, cyclists, horses, and people? Would the dog do well in a family with children — or not? How does it behave around strangers? During the appointment, you’ll also share more about your household and living situation. If we believe you can offer the dog what it needs, you’ll be invited to meet the dog — either in the play area or during a walk. It’s important that all family members are present. Sometimes multiple visits are needed to build trust with the dog. The dog never goes home the same day, giving you time to carefully consider your decision. Our staff will support you throughout the entire process.

Dogs with Behavioral Problems

In addition to dogs with physical health issues, some arrive at the shelter with behavioral challenges. Our dog care team works with them immediately using a kind and animal-friendly approach. We do not use correction tools. Instead, we reward desirable behavior and ignore or redirect undesirable behavior. All our dog caregivers are either certified behavioral therapists or in training to become one.

Donors and Sponsors

Caring for shelter dogs — especially medically — involves high costs. We are largely dependent on donors and sponsors. Without your help, we cannot care for these animals. Please support us and become a donor. The Hague Animal Center is a recognized ANBI organization, meaning your contribution goes entirely to the benefit of the shelter animals.