Benefits of Adopting an Older Pet

Although shelters are bursting with thousands of dogs it is difficult to find a perfectly trained, well-behaved, obedient dog at a shelter. However, there are thousands of dogs in shelters that have the perfect potential or are near perfect if provided with consistency, love and guidance, and above all - a chance. Often dogs are discarded for the most ridiculous reasons, reasons that a new owner can correct with little time or effort. With an open mind and a bit of work, what was once someone's "nuisance" pet, could be your perfect pet!.

Benefits of adopting an older dog:

• Older dogs are more independent than puppies and are usually already housebroken allowing them to be left alone for longer periods of time.
• An older dog may be more suitable for adopters that prefer a less active dog, puppies are typically very energetic requiring a lot more attention.
• What you see is what you get! Older dogs are grown to full size and have already developed their personalities, temperaments, and physical characteristics. It is very difficult for shelter staff to determine what the full growth of your puppy will be in a year from now.
• A mature dog is less destructive and better focused having already gone through the adolescent stages of its life.
• Mature dogs have a better attention span making them great candidates for new tricks and further training.

If your time is limited, consider an adult dog. A puppy that is left alone all day can't learn how you want it to act. It could take months, or even years, before you reach the same comfortable relationship with a puppy that you could have with an older dog in a matter of days. Let someone with more free time, and lots of patience raise the puppies!

Benefits of adopting an older cat:

• Kittens, like puppies require a lot of supervision, which may be difficult in many busy family environments. An adult cat usually adapts to its new home in a quicker and smoother fashion than a kitten does.
• Homes with existing pets can sometimes be hazardous to a small fragile kitten, as opposed to an adult cat that will soon set boundaries and determine the pecking order with the other pets in the home.
• Households with small children can also be dangerous for a young kitten. An adult cat can physically tolerate more handling from a child and are able to avoid a child that may be too rough.