Adopting a Dog, Cat or Other Pet From a Shelter or Rescue

There are many shelters and rescues in our area that are always looking for good homes. Many excellent dogs and cats of all kinds are in need of loving owners. There are shelters and rescues that take all breeds and there are rescues that specialize in pure bred pets or older pets or special needs pets. Don’t forget to consider adopting a rabbit, ferret, or other pet from a rescue instead of buying from a pet store. Rescues generally provide much better support on the proper care of your new pet as well as follow up with any problems.

The best reason to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue is that it truly saves lives. The more pets organizations adopt out the more they can save from euthanasia.

Adopting an Older Dog

Puppies are undeniably cute. However, as anyone who has ever raised a puppy knows, these cute little babies can be as labor intensive as a small child. If you've been searching for a pet companion, but are not sure you have the time, energy and patience it takes to properly train a puppy, consider the advantages of adopting an older animal.

Convenience is a main factor. Training a puppy means starting at the beginning; an older dog will most likely be housebroken and may have had previous training. At the very least, an older dog will not have to be fed or taken outside as often as a younger one, and can be left alone for longer periods of time. The older the dog, the more independent they can be.

Older dogs often make great companions for older people, who don't have the stamina to keep up with young, energetic puppies.

With an older dog you know what you're getting in terms of size, physical appearance, health and temperament. There is no way to know whether the tiny puppy you adopt today will be 90 pounds of hard-to-manage dog a year from now, or if she will shed constantly or fall victim to a genetic disease. An older dog has already gone through the destructive phases of adolescence and puppy hood, and will most likely be more focused and self-disciplined.

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Sure. In fact, older dogs have a longer attention span, and often give more recognition to their trainers than puppies and young dogs do.

With all the superb qualities possessed by older dogs, it is unfortunate that they are of often overlooked. Before heading to the nearest puppy kennel in search of your next companion, take a moment to ponder the possibilities of an older dog. You may be surprised what (and who) you find.

Adopting an Older Cat

Kittens need much more attention and supervision than adults. If the potential adopter works outside the home or is otherwise frequently away, they'll find that an adult cat will adapt to their home much more comfortably than a kitten.

The same is true for a home that already has other animals. While a resident dog can be a hazard for a small kitten, an adult cat will soon set boundaries and decide with the dog what belongs where, and when. This seems to be also true of homes with a resident feline. A kitten can be too playful and annoying for an older cat, whereas another adult introduced slowly and patiently, will work out with the first cat a pecking order that suits both parties.

Households with very young children are another poor choice for a kitten. Young children can sometimes be very rough with a kitten. Adult cats seem to be able to tolerate a certain amount of handling from kids yet are still able to leave when enough is enough.

Kittens can also be very destructive to your home. They want to climb the curtains and knock over everything in their path. A lot of your time will be taken up chasing and cleaning up after the kitten. Night time is usually a kitten’s favorite time to play and race at top speeds through the house. This may keep you from getting your beauty sleep.

The other potential problem area is litter box training. The older cat is already use to using a litter box and will seek out the litter box instead of going on the carpet. Kittens will have to be confined to an area near the litter box until they can navigate the entire house and find the litter box.

Finally, a three-year-old cat still has, in all probability, a good dozen years to share with you. .