"Why on earth would anyone want to adopt an adult rescue or shelter
dog? After all, aren't they like used cars? Who wants someone else's problems?
If the dog is so wonderful, why would anyone give him away? If he was a stray,
why didn't someone try to find him? I'd rather buy a puppy so I know what I'm
getting, and besides they're so cute!"
Rescue groups and shelters often hear a variation of this conversation.
Many prospective dog guardians are just not convinced that bringing an older
(i.e., 6 mo. +) dog into the family is better than buying a puppy. But there
are a number of reasons why adopting a pet from a rescue that carefully
screens and evaluates its dog can provide an even better alternative.
Here are the "Top 10 Reasons You Should Consider an Adult Rescue Dog."
10) In a Word--Housebroken. With most family members gone during
the work week for 8 hours or more, housetraining a puppy and its small
bladder can take awhile. Puppies need a consistent schedule with frequent
opportunities to eliminate where you want them to. They can't wait for the
boss to finish his meeting or the kids to come home from after school
activities. An older dog can "hold it" much more reliably for longer time
periods, and usually the rescue has him housebroken before he is adopted.
9) Intact Underwear. With a chewy puppy, you can count on at least
10 mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of unmentionables rendered to the
"rag bag" before he cuts every tooth. And don't even think about shoes!
Also, you can expect holes in your carpet (along with the urine stains),
pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from couches, and at least one
dead remote control. No matter how well you watch them, it will happen--this
is a puppy's job! An older dog can usually have the run of the house without
destroying it.
8) A Good Night's Sleep. Forget the alarm clocks and hot water
bottles, a puppy can be very demanding at 2am and 4am and 6am. He misses his
littermates, and that stuffed animal will not make a puppy pile with him. If
you have children, you've been there and done that. How about a little peace
and quiet? How about an older rescue dog??
7) Finish the Newspaper. With a puppy running amok in your house,
do you think you will be able to relax when you get home from work? Do you
think your kids will really feed him, clean up the messes, and take him for
a walk in the pouring rain every hour to get him housetrained? With an adult
dog, it will only be the kids running amok, because your dog will be sitting
calmly next to you, while your workday stress flows away and your blood
pressure lowers as you pet him.
6) Easier Vet Trips. Those puppies need their series of puppy
shots and fecals, then their rabies shot, then a trip to be altered, maybe
an emergency trip or two if they've chewed something dangerous. Those puppy
visits can add up (on top of what you paid for the dog!). Your donation to
the rescue when adopting an older pup should get you a dog with all shots
current, already altered, heartworm negative and on preventative at the
minimum.
5) What You See Is What You Get. How big will that puppy be? What
kind of temperament will he have? Will he be easily trained? Will his
personality be what you were hoping for? How active will he be? When
adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those questions are easily
answered. You can pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy or
brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its foster homes can guide you to
pick the right match. (Rescues are full of puppies who became the wrong
match as they got older!)
4) Unscarred Children (and Adults). When the puppy isn't teething
on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and yourself.
Rescues routinely get calls from panicked parents who are sure their dog is
biting the children. Since biting implies hostile intent and would be a
consideration whether to accept a "give-up", rescue groups ask questions and
usually find out the dog is being nippy. Parents are often too emotional to
see the difference; but a growing puppy is going to put everything from food
to clothes to hands in their mouths, and as they get older and bigger it
definitely hurts (and will get worse, if they aren’t being corrected
properly.) Most older dogs have "been there, done that, moved on."
3) Matchmaker Make Me a Match. Puppy love is often no more than an
attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on which to make
a decision that will hopefully last 15+ years. While that puppy may have
been the cutest of the litter; he may grow up to be super active (when what
you wanted was a couch buddy); she may be a couch princess (when what you
wanted was a tireless hiking companion); he may want to spend every waking
moment in the water (while you're a landlubber); or she may want to be an
only child (while you are intending to have kids or more animals). Pet
miss-matches are one of the top reasons rescues get "give-up" phone calls.
Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants
to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other until
death do them part.
2) Instant Companion. With an older dog, you automatically have a
buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There's no
waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope he will like to do what you
enjoy.) You will have been able to select the most compatible dog: one that
travels well; one that loves to play with your friends' dogs; one with
excellent house manners that you can take to your a long day's work and
spend your time on a relaxing walk, ride or swim with your new best friend
(rather than cleaning up after a small puppy.)
1) Bond--Rescue Dog Bond. Dogs that have been uprooted from their
happy homes or have not had the best start in life are more likely to bond
very completely and deeply with their new people. Those who have lost their
families through death, divorce or lifestyle change go through a terrible
mourning process. But, once attached to a new loving family, they seem to
want to please as much as possible to make sure they are never homeless
again. Those dogs that are just learning about the good life and good people
seem to bond even deeper. They know what life on the streets, life on the
end of a chain, or worse is all about, and they revel and blossom in a
nurturing, loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate
and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.
Unfortunately, many folks think dogs that end up in rescue are all
genetically and behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for Rescue to
get $500 dogs that have either outlived their usefulness or their novelty with
impulsive pet guardians who considered their dog a possession rather than a
friend or member of the family; or simply did not really consider the time,
effort and expense needed to be a dog caretaker. Not all breeders will accept
"returns", so choices for giving up dogs can be limited to animal welfare
organizations, such as rescues, or the guardians trying to place their own
dogs. Good rescues will evaluate the dog before accepting him/her (medically
and behaviorally), rehabilitate if necessary, and adopt the animal only when
he/she is ready and to a home that matches and is realistic about the
commitment necessary to provide the dog with the best home possible.
Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased pup will not solve the pet
overpopulation problem (only responsible pet guardians and breeders can do
that), but it does give many of them a chance they otherwise would not have.
But, beyond doing a "good deed", adopting a rescue dog can be the best
decision and addition to the family you ever made.
Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life!
Written by Mary Clark at Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc. Permission
has been granted to freely reprint and distribute this document as long as
LRR, Inc at "http://www.lrr.org/" is
credited.
