Hi ! I am going to adopt a pet from the animal shelter soon. I believe I would like a dog 
That is very nice, a shelter is a good place and there are actually rescue groups that you can call like the Humane Society.
Yes, I have found some rescue groups locally, however, they charge a very hefty rehoming fee.  
Well there are other animal rescue groups too, they all are mostly run by volunteers, but they are trained to handle medical problems and such.
After Katrina, Pitbulls and Parolees ( a local tv show) offered services to Katrina victims who had to leave their pets behind. 
There is one called Best Friends Animal Society, it was originally a church but it became a charity in 2003, that might be another option as well.
Adoption among animals I find is a genuine way to go. People have to surrender their pets for various reasons.
the public. They include Petfinder.org and Adopt-a-Pet.com.
Unwanted pets.
People deal with their unwanted pets in many ways. Some people have the pet euthanized (also known as "putting it down" or "putting it to sleep"), although many veterinarians do not consider this to be an ethical use of their resources for young and healthy animals, while others argue that euthanasia is a more humane option than leaving a pet in a cage for very long periods of time. Other people simply
outcomes for dogs and their adopted owners. Specifically, dog owners like Paris Hilton and commercial-star Gidget the Taco Bell chihuahua as well as films like Beverly Hills Chihuahua have been directly cited as blameworthy. Most dog breed societies and Kennel Clubs have similar concerns but place rather more stress on issues relating to breed standardization and quality.
There are many animal adoption alternatives that potential pet owners can consider, including animal shelters and the umbrella organization The Shelter Pet Project, animal rescue groups, online organizations such as Petfinder that directly