Adopt An Older Pet?

People new to pets don’t know to consider older dogs or cats as an alternative.  Puppies, contrary to what most people believe, are not the way most people should get started with pets.

“The ‘awww’ factor makes many people wanting to add a family dog think of adorable puppies,” says Denise Sproul of Cascade Beagle Rescue. The puppy is appealing at first, but the demands of a puppy are often more than the adopters expect and last for much longer than expected. “However, older dogs are usually mellow, housebroken dogs, a whole different type of dog.” These dogs often fit better into the life of a family.

Denise Swanson, Adoptions Manager for Willamette Humane Society says, “people don’t understand the demands of a young animal.  What puppies and kittens need is round the clock care. Potty training, establishing permissible behavior, veterinary care, and grooming challenges compound the daily exercise and feeding responsibilities that extend for a dog or cat’s lifetime of 12-18 years.Most people do not have time to spend with a puppy or kitten,” says Swanson.”

Anyone who has watched babies grow to adulthood knows that predicting personality, looks, and temperament is tough. Dogs are the same. With an adult dog, adoptive families do less guessing.

Swanson from Willamette Humane believes that finding a good personality and lifestyle fit with an older pet is a huge advantage for both the families and the animals embarking on a lifetime relationship. In addition to the established personality, housetraining, and basic manners of older dogs, an older pet is mellower.

Seniors are the pets to consider if you want a cat that is a lap cat, or a dog that is happy to go around the block once or twice a day. Willamette Humane has a “Seniors for Seniors” program, an adoption plan that pairs senior citizens of the human variety with seniors of the pet variety. “The companionship for person and animal is very rewarding,” Swanson says. 

One concern raised by adopters of older dogs is the dog’s lifespan, says Denise Sproul of Cascade Beagle Rescue. “Beagles live to fifteen years, and they tend to act like puppies their whole lives.” True, if you adopt a dog that is ten you will have the dog for five years or so, but the benefits of five years with a loving dog are extraordinary. Some people see an older dog as an advantage. Couples may want a dog for only a few years before their retirement.

Most adopters get help from the shelters or organizations sponsoring the animals for adoption.  Bonnie Hayes Shelter calls adopters to be sure that adoptions work out, offering help, a pet psychologist, and training classes.

Cascade Beagle Rescue offers assistance to beagle owners also—before and after an adoption.  A significant concern to this and most breed rescues is the match of breed characteristics with the family. For example, beagles should be on leash or in a secure, fenced yard at all times. Why? Beagles are scent hounds. Once onto a scent, they do not typically respond to recall. For a family that dreams of spending their days at an off-leash park, the beagle is not the dog for them —even though its looks and short hair and size are appealing.

Cascade Beagle Rescue works with owners to solve behavior problems, a frequent reason dogs end up in shelters. They offer counseling and support in both human and dog behavior modification to make the relationship work for everyone. Nevertheless, breed characteristics are what they are.

One resource, Petfinder.com, gives people with a specific type of pet in mind an idea of which shelter or rescue has an animal that meets their requirements. Most shelters and breed rescues have websites listing animals available and procedures for adoption.

Here’s a partial listing of companion animal adoption centers in the Northwest, near my home.  From this list, you can see the range of organizations that might be available in your area.

Cat Adoption Team http://www.catadoptionteam.org
House of Dreams http://www.kittydreams.org
Indigo Rescue http://www.indigorescue.org
Animal Aid http://www.animalaidpdx.org
Animal Rescue & Care http://www.pdx-petadoption.org
Rabbit Advocates http://www.adoptarabbit.org
Oregon Humane Society http://www.oregonhumane.org
Columbia Humane Society http://www.columbiahumane.org
Cascade Ferret Network http://www.cascade-ferret.org
Second Chance Companions http://www.sccpets.com
Willamette Humane http://www.willamettehumane.org
Exotic Bird Rescue http://www.RescueBird.com

Multnomah County http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/pets
Washington County http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/at/dog/dog.htm
Clackamas County http://www.co.clackamas.or.us/dc/index.jsp
Columbia County http://www.ccanimals.com

Cascade Beagle Rescue http://www.cascaderescue.org
Other breeds http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm

http://www.nwdogrescue.com

Petfinder.com

• Adopting a Great Dog, by Nina Kilgore Bauer
  A guide to the adopting a shelter or rescue dog.li
• Adopting Pets: How to choose your new best friend, by Bill Gutman
  Reading level grades 3-5, responsibility for pets, why pets end up in shelters, pet overpopulation.
• Paws, Claws, Feathers and Fins, by Peter Pan Publishing
  A kid’s video guide to pets, including activities for kids, presented by kids age 4-12, showing care for pets, how to play with pets, how much time your pet needs, alternatives to puppies and when a pet dies.
• Animal Planet Pet Care Series: Conure, by Carol Frischmann
  What to expect if you adopt a Conure as a pet parrot, including care, play, and the peculiar aspects of having a “wild” pet.