Instructions
Research dog breeds and decide what type of puppy you are looking for. When you adopt a puppy, you make a commitment to care for that dog throughout its entire life. Choose a breed that will fit in with your lifestyle. Ask yourself what size dog you have space for, how much you can afford to spend, how active your lifestyle is and what qualities you are looking for in a dog.
Contact your county animal shelter and ask if any of your chosen breeds are available for adoption. County animal shelters in New York are often run by animal control and will euthanize animals if they aren't adopted within a certain time frame. Visit the shelter and meet the puppies that are available (you might fall in love with a puppy you hadn't previously considered).
Search for independent animal shelters in New York. Use online resources such as petfinder.com to search for puppies that you might be interested in meeting. Contact the shelters and schedule a visit to meet the puppies they have available for adoption. Look at local pet stores to see if these shelters hold adoption days you can attend.
Visit Humane Societies and ASPCA adoption centers in New York. The ASPCA, an organization which rescues abused, abandoned or neglected animals, is headquartered in New York City. Meet the animals available for adoption and consider giving one of these puppies a second chance and a new home.
Bring the required paperwork for adoption. In order to adopt from a New York Animal Shelter, you must bring a valid driver's license or other form of photo identification, and you must be at least 18 years old.
Adopting Puppies in New York
Three million to 4 million homeless animals are euthanized each year in the U.S., according to statistics by the Humane Society of the United States. You can help reduce this statistic by adopting a puppy rather than purchasing one from a breeder or puppy mill. Puppies of all breeds can be found at animal shelters, and these animals are often healthier than the puppies you would find at breeders or in pet stores. Shelter animals have thorough physical examinations and receive all vaccinations before being approved for adoption. In addition, adopting a shelter animal is cheaper than purchasing a breeder puppy and will be easier on your wallet. If you live in New York, there are plenty of options available to you.