Eric Gray's dog, Riley, was a former shelter dog rejected by two foster homes because he was deemed too hyper to be a pet.

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Millan said after you have adopted a shelter dog, the first thing you need to do before bringing your new pet home is take it for a long, one- to two-hour walk.

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She and her husband adopted their first dog, Ladybug, from a shelter in 2005, when Ladybug was 10 years old.

CNN: Group helps down-on-luck dog owners keep their pets

The message often being repeated these days is that the only socially acceptable way to acquire a dog is through a rescue or shelter.

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Our dog came to us via a shelter in Philadelphia.

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He rolled, boot-camp style, a protected ball, in the shelter of a baby grand, from which he eyed the dog with dread.

NEWYORKER: The Yellow