Rescue groups often hear
variations of these comments. Many prospective dog owners are just not
convinced that owning an older "pre-owned" dog is better than buying a
puppy. But there are a number of reasons, besides price, why adopting a pet
from a rescue can provide an even better alternative than purchasing 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 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.
#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 ragbag 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, legs chewed off of furniture, 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. 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, 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 dog should get you a dog with all shots current and often already
altered.
#5 What You See Is What You Get
How big will that puppy be? What will he look like fully grown? 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 can guide you to pick the right
match.
#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. 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 his mouth, and as he gets older and bigger it
definitely hurts (and will get worse, if he isn’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 superactive (when what you wanted was a couch buddy);
she may be a couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless
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 mis-matches are one of the
top reasons rescues get "give-up" phone calls. Good rescues do evaluations
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 dogs that end up in rescue are all
genetically and behaviorally inferior. But it is not uncommon for rescue to
get $800 dogs that have either outlived their usefulness or their novelty
with impulsive owners 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 owner. Not all breeders will accept
"returns," so choices for giving up dogs can be limited to shelters and
pounds, rescues, or the owners trying to place their own dogs. Good rescues
will evaluate the dog before accepting him/her and adopt the animal 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 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
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!
