Puppies for Free: Important Considerations, Pros & Cons

Oh yes. Free puppies. Every person‘s dream. Whether you’re hoping to find an abandoned litter of puppies on the side of the road or really hoping that one of your neighbors has an accidental litter so you can scoop one up, paying nothing for something is always a good thing. But is it?

In this article, we aim to explain the dangers of free puppies, and why you should never search for them specifically, nor should you ever give away a litter of puppies for free. The dangers associated with it are pretty great, so let’s get into why that is.

The Truth About Free Puppies

Free puppies are automatically at a disadvantage. If someone posts a litter of puppies for free, they might be trying to do the right thing by getting their dogs loving homes. However, the exact opposite is possible.

Many people with bad intentions, look for free puppies on purpose. If they are using the puppies as bait for dogfighters, they will often take free puppies and put them in absolutely gruesome situations that result in the severe injury or death of the dog.

Abusers and neglectful owners might also get free puppies because they aren’t willing to put up the money to pay for them in the first place. Because it is such a fine line, we highly recommend not expecting free puppies, nor advertising free puppies.

You Don’t Always Know the Backstory

You don’t know the litter's backstory. Genetics play a huge role in the overall physical health and temperament of the dog in question. If you know nothing about either parent, you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.

The dog might have an extremely poor temperament, be very hard to train, or even aggressive. As puppies, it sometimes hard to tell exactly what the dog will grow up to be like. Without the proper genetic testing, health is also an issue.

You have no idea what the dog is going to be susceptible to or will develop later in life. For some, this won’t matter. You are willing to take your animal to the vet without question and deal with each issue as they come. For others, it can pose a very tricky situation, financially speaking.

Why Are You Looking for a Free Puppy?

Ask yourself why you’re looking for a free puppy. Is it because you can’t afford to adopt a puppy or buy one from a breeder? If so, you might need to reassess the timeline and when you want to have a puppy.

While it is very tempting to have a four-legged cutie running around, these animals are not cheap. They require vetting, supplies, entertainment, and nutrition. In a month's time, you could rack up a few hundred dollars just in care alone.

So you have to understand that even if you get a puppy for free, that doesn’t eliminate many of the costs associated with having one.

Where to Get Free Puppies

We never recommend seeking out free puppies due to all the risks discussed above. But there are, of course, certain situations where free puppies might not be a bad thing, so we recommend asking people you trust. For example, one of your friends, family members, or co-workers might have been driving home from work late one night, saw an abandoned puppy on the side of the road, and brought it home with them.

They might be scrambling around, trying to find a way to provide for the puppies and find good homes for them. In these circumstances, it’s always okay to step up and take charge. You can help by offering one of these dogs a wonderful home, or helping your friend find them somewhere suitable to go.

You can also look out for adoption events put on by your local shelter in which they are offering dogs for free in order to clear the shelter, or dogs in which the adoption fee has been paid for by someone else (also known as ‘sponsored’). This is the safest way to ensure the dog is healthy, as most of the vetting will have been done for you.

We recommend being very cautious about getting free puppies off of sites such as Craigslist. This is where you can run into dogs that have health or behavioral problems, so we always recommend asking lots of questions before committing. If the person giving the puppy away seems iffy or suspicious in any way, we recommend steering clear.

Areas of Cost for Puppies

Even if you get a healthy puppy for free, there are still costs associated with dog ownership that you need to be aware of. You need to make sure you can financially care for the dog throughout its life before committing to caring for them.

Vetting

Vet care is extremely crucial to the health and well-being of any dog. If you get a puppy for free, you’re still going to have to pay for the expenses of taking them to a licensed veterinarian for check ups and treatment.

In a puppy's first year of life, they’re going to get to know their veterinarian very well. You will have to take them for parasite prevention, routine vaccinations, microchipping, and elective spay or neuter surgery. Their first year, you will have to bring them back for annual check ups to make sure that their health is on point and they are not at risk for developing any health conditions.

Vet fees can be pretty high. Depending on the vet you choose, you are looking at spending several hundred dollars a year on care alone. You can save a little money by going to a mobile clinic, local rescue or shelter, or veterinary college for care.

Nutrition

Nutrition is paramount. Even though you could easily go get a big bag of dog food for cheap from the Dollar General down the street, it doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily the best option for your dog.

But, if you want a nutritious recipe that's really going to help your dog thrive, you will need high-quality dog food that contains all of the right ingredients. Dry kibble and wet canned food are still very viable options in the pet food world.

With pet nutritionists on the trail, the dietary options seem to keep improving over time. More and more people are switching to fresh diets. There are plenty of companies that send out fresh, hand-picked foods to dogs based on their individual height, weight, and overall lifestyle.

These options are much more expensive than traditional means of buying dog food, but it could have so many perks when it comes to the overall longevity of your dog.

Supplies

Your dog will need no shortage of supplies. Everything from leashes to harnesses to dog bowls and beds, you are going to want to get quite a bit of things to keep your dog taken care of. These things rarely come free. You can find steals of deals, but that doesn't mean you won't have to pony up some dough.

Entertainment

You will need to have a lot for your puppy to do. Most puppies are avid chewers and can quickly destroy belongings if they are left unattended. If you don't get them plenty of toys to keep them busy, they will certainly find something to keep them busy, which could cost you more money in the long run.

You will have to put at least some money toward entertainment. After all, you won't be around constantly to keep them busy. It's best to have a backup plan to properly channel pent-up energy.

You will quickly have a good understanding of your dog's likes and dislikes, and you can make smart purchases accordingly. There are also many different items that you can make yourself from the comfort of your own home.

Better Alternatives to Free Puppies

There are tons of pets in need. You can find dogs lining shelters and rescues just waiting for their forever home. Sure, you will have to pay a couple hundred dollars to bring home a rescue, but all of the vetting has already been done for you.

They already have a great start and many individuals can work with them to make sure that their temperament is a good fit for your lifestyle. Rather than scouring the internet for potentially mistreated free puppies, you can understand that you did a good thing by saving a life.

Conclusion

The reality is that no puppy is ever really free. You still have to pay recurring costs for this dog no matter what. So, if you don't have very much money right now but you think bringing a dog home is a good idea, you might want to think about it in greater detail before you decide and make sure you acquire a puppy responsibly.

You will be solely responsible for the health and well-being of your pooch, and they will rely on you for all of their daily needs. Is this something you can commit to?

Featured Image Credit: Alessandra Sawick, Shutterstock