"Why on earth would anyone want to adopt a rescue 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 often hear a variation of this conversation. Many prospective dog
owners are just not convinced that owning an older (i.e., 6 mo.+)
"pre-owned" dog 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 a
Rescue."
10) In a Word--Housebroken. With most family members gone during the workweek
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 2:00am and 4:00am and 6:00am. 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, 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 that 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 mismatches 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 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 Rescues to get $500 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 animal welfare organizations, such
as Rescues, or the owners trying to place their own dogs. Good Rescues will
evaluate the dog 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 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!
This article has been modified from its original format. The original article
was written by Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc and can be found on their website
at www.lrr.org."
Reprinted by permission from Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc. The original
article may be found at www.lrr.org.
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