Why on Earth Adopt an Adult Pet from a Rescue Group?

Puppies - The King of Toys?

"Why on earth would anyone want to adopt a rescued pet? After all, aren't they like used cars? Who wants someone else's problems? If the pet is so wonderful, why would anyone give her away? If he was a stray, why didn't someone try to find him? I'd rather buy a puppy or a kitten so I know what I'm getting, and besides they're so cute!" Rescue groups often hear a variation of this conversation.

Many prospective pet owners are just not convinced that owning an older (i.e, 6 mo.+) "pre-owned" pet is better than buying a puppy or kitten. But there are a number of reasons why adopting a pet from a rescue group that carefully screens and evaluates its pets can provide an even better alternative. The following list applies mainly to puppies, but some points also apply to kittens and indicate why a rescued adult cat is a better choice.

Here are the "Top 10 Reasons You Should Consider a Rescued Dog rather than a Puppy."

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 a while. 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 many times the rescue group has him housebroken (or s/he was already 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, mature 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, 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 group when adopting an older pup should get you a dog with all shots current, already neutered, 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 group , all of those questions are easily answered. You can pick the breed you like. Do you want a Chihuahua? How about a Dachshund mix? A Golden Lab? We have them. You can pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue group 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. Rescue groups 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, s/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 s/he may want to be an only child (while you are intending to have kids or more animals). Pet mis-matches are one of the top reasons rescue groups get "give-up" phone calls. Good rescue groups 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 parents' new home with the new carpet and the new couch. You can come home after 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 who 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 pets that end up in rescue are all genetically and behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for rescue groups to get $500 pets that have either outlived their usefulness or their novelty with impulsive owners who considered their dog or cat 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 pet owner.

Not all breeders will accept "returns", so choices for giving up pets can be limited to animal welfare organizations, such as rescue groups, or the owners trying to place their own pets. Good rescue groups will evaluate the pet before accepting him/her (medically, behaviorally, and for breed confirmation), 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 pet with the best home possible.

Choosing a rescue pet over a purchased pet will not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only responsible pet owners and breeders can do that), but it does give many of them a chance they otherwise would not have.

But, beyond doing a "good", adopting a rescued pet can be the best decision and addition to the family you ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life! Rescue a cat and get a cuddler who will purr as you pet.



Reprinted by permission from Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc.

The original article may be found at www.lrr.org. You may reprint any article from our site as long as the above statement is included on every reprint.