If you’re searching for free puppies in Arizona, you’ve come to the right place. Owning and caring for a puppy comes with many responsibilities and expenses. It costs a lot to provide quality food, treats, and vet care. As such, many potential pet owners want to cut down the cost of buying a puppy and channel the funds to caring for them.
If you are one of those looking for free puppies in Arizona, you have come to the right place. This article will share some effective and proven ways to find free puppies in Arizona. There are many options to explore, so you need to find an option that works for you and be patient.
Before you scroll further down this guide, “Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Arizona,” you can check out these other dog-related recommendations from our team at We Love Doodles: Best Pitbull Rescues in Arizona For Adoption and Best Cocker Spaniel Rescues in Arizona For Adoption.
Things to Know Before Getting Free Puppies in Arizona
Before getting a free puppy, you want to ensure you are well-equipped and prepared for the task ahead. You should know some things before choosing and bringing your new puppy home. Hundreds of dog breeds are out there, so choosing one best suited to your lifestyle and personality is essential.
Do your research and create a list of dog breeds you love and can live with. Do you like large breeds? Do you want a purebred or crossbreed puppy? Not all free puppies are suitable for you, so you must consider your needs before deciding. Here are other vital things to know and do when looking for a free puppy.
Puppy Product Recommendations: Best E-Collars For Aggressive Dogs and Best Luxury Dog Strollers.
1. Ensure Your Wallet Can Handle It
Getting a puppy for free does not mean you are exempted from the expenses of owning one. Puppies require a lot of care, which can quickly run up to thousands of bucks.
When you are responsible for a puppy, you need to spend money on several things, including:
- Regular and emergency vet visits
- Food and treats
- Bedding
- Crates
- Collar and harness
- Toys
- Grooming supplies
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Air Purifiers For Dog Hair and Best Plush Dog Toys.
2. You Need to Pay Close Attention to Your Puppy
Like babies, puppies also need a lot of attention in their infancy stage. It would be best if you kept an eye on your new companion, especially what they eat. Some foods that are good for humans to consume might be poisonous to dogs. Chocolate is at the top of the list of things not to give your puppy.
Foods that could harm your puppy include macadamia nuts, raisins, grapes, onions, and more. It is also essential to feed your puppy quality dog food and treats. You should also be careful not to overfeed them to avoid obesity, which is the cause of some severe health issues in dogs.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Shock Collars For a Biting Puppy and Best Slicker Brushes For Dogs.
3. Your Puppy Will Need Plenty of Exercise
One of the requirements of responsible pet ownership is creating time for your pet. Puppies and dogs need exercise, and you must create the time for that. If you are always busy or travel regularly, you are not ready to own one of these beautiful companions. Your puppy or dog must go on at least one long walk daily.
This helps to strengthen their joints and bones and helps prevent obesity. Regular exercise is also a way to have fun with your puppy, as you can engage in activities like “hide and seek” and “fetch.” With a lot of exercises and fresh air, your puppy will always be happy.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Dog Nail Grinders and Best Flea Shampoos For Dogs.
4. Early Training
Training your puppy cannot be overemphasized, as it helps set clear rules and boundaries. If you want your puppy to grow into a well-behaved dog, you must run it through various training courses at its infancy stage.
You can either create time to properly train your puppy with the help of online courses or hire a professional to handle the task. You should correct the dog’s bad behavior and reward/praise them for good behavior.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Go Pro Dog Harnesses and Best E-Collars For Large Dogs.
5. Microchipping and Dog Tags Are Necessary
Accidents occur, and you never know if and when your puppy will run away or get lost. It is easy for humans to find their way back home when lost, but that is not the case with dogs. Investing in a good dog collar with a tag and microchipping is one of the best ways to protect your dog.
With the tag, someone can contact you if they find your lost puppy. Microchipping will also enable you to track the puppy wherever it is. Some free puppies come microchipped, but you must update your new information with the company.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Clippers For Long-Haired Dogs and Best Dog Crates For Car Backseats.
Ways to Get a Free Puppy in Arizona
Here are the various options to explore when looking for a free puppy in Arizona:
1. Ask Local Breeders
Many people looking for free puppies never consider dog breeders because we all know they breed and sell puppies. However, going through breeders in your area is one of the rare ways to find a puppy to adopt for free.
Reputable breeders sell their puppies (at very high costs) because they spend a lot of money on breeding and raising them. Nevertheless, once in a while, some breeders try to rehome a litter of puppies for some reason. One of the reasons is that they could not find buyers for the puppies.
Another reason is that they might be closing shop and want to find suitable homes for their last litter. Nonetheless, you should beware of backyard breeders who practice unethical breeding and seek places to offload their puppies for free.
Some unscrupulous breeders give out puppies for free because they are not up to their desired breed’s standard. Do your findings about the breeder to ensure they are legit and ethical before accepting a free puppy.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Onesies For Dogs and Best Dog Brush For Tangles.
2. Craigslist
Craigslist is an online platform that allows people to place classified adverts to rehome pets. The platform has many ads, ranging from free to paid pets. You can explore the “community” section of the platform to find pet owners who want to rehome their puppies for free.
Some listings have photos and information about the puppy’s age, looks, health, and temperament. Once you find the puppy you want, you can engage with the owner directly on the platform by email or phone.
Call them to get more information about the puppy and ask if there are any undisclosed health or behavioral issues. Get all the information you need to make a final verdict before meeting the person.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Plaque Removers For Dogs and Best Muscle Growth Supplements For Dogs.
3. Local Dog Rescues and Shelters
Dog rescues are mostly private, non-profit organizations saving and caring for homeless, abused, neglected, and owner-surrendered dogs. These organizations work with fosters who temporarily accommodate and care for these puppies and dogs until they find their forever homes.
Rescue organizations might require a minimal adoption fee, which covers vaccinations, vet care, food, and other expenses. However, some rescues organize adoption events to waive adoption fees to encourage pet adoption.
Stay alert for such occasions to get a free puppy. You can also reach out to rescues in your areas and find out if they organize such events and the date for the next one.
Shelters are mostly government owned and are responsible for taking dogs off the streets and accepting owner-surrendered dogs. Shelters are usually crowded with puppies and dogs, and they sometimes give these pets out free of charge. You can contact a shelter close to you for a free puppy.
Here are some rescues and shelters you can contact and ask for a free puppy:
- Arizona Small Dog Rescue: If you are looking for a small breed puppy, you can contact this rescue organization in Phoenix.
- Almost There: Almost there is a non-profit organization focused on rescuing moms and puppies.
- Friends For Life Animal Rescue: This organization is located in Gilbert, Arizona, and it specializes in rescuing and rehoming puppies and dogs.
- Underdog Rescue of Arizona: This Phoenix-based rescue is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of puppies and dogs.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Training Collars For Small Dogs and Best Dog Football Toys.
4. Facebook Groups
Facebook is a great source for finding free puppies. There are dozens of groups on this social platform dedicated to puppy and dog adoption. You can search for Facebook groups for puppy adoption, and you will see many groups created to help rehome lost-n-found puppies. Some groups are created to share information about pets that need rehoming. You can also find pet owners looking for responsible individuals or families to rehome their puppies or dogs.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Flea Collars For Dogs and Best Dog Shampoos For Smelly Dogs.
5. Ask Relatives and Friends
Sometimes what you are looking for in distant places might be a stone-throw away from you. One of the fastest ways of getting a free puppy is by asking family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors.
Even if they do not have a puppy they want to rehome, they might know someone who wants to. Take the initiative to ask your neighbors, as someone might be expecting a litter and willing to share the puppies.
More Puppy-Related Guides: Best Flea and Tick Collars For Dogs and Best Pin Brush For Dogs.
Conclusion For “Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Arizona”
In addition to saving a lot of money, getting a free puppy comes with many bonuses. One of the notable advantages is that it does not require any specific paperwork. However, some organizations or individuals who give away puppies for free might require you to provide proof of residency, income, and other general information. Some organizations might also require you to fill out an application or/and meet certain criteria.
If you find this guide, “Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Arizona,” you can check out these other dog-related articles from our team:
- Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Delaware
- Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Massachusetts
- Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Rhode Island
Before you begin your search for free puppies in Arizona, you can learn more about getting free puppies by watching “How to Get Free Puppies” down below:
Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.