October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Are you looking for:
an exercise buddy?
a best friend and confidant for your child?
a dog you can train with to learn animal-assisted therapy?
a partner in agility competitions?
a constant companion for your favorite senior citizen?
a fuzzy face to greet you after a hard day at work?
October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and that means it’s time to celebrate all things dog and get more homeless dogs and puppies into forever homes.
Older dog vs young puppy
What You See Is What You Get
Adopting an Older dogs you’ll know important things like their full-grown size, personality and grooming requirements even before you bring them home. This is important because when adopting from a shelter or rescue you can’t always be sure of your new dogs adult size this way you know if you have a small, medium, or large dog. Once they are home and adjusted to their new life they might get slightly bigger now that they have regular access to fresh water and good nutritious food but nothing like the unknown when you bring in a cute puppy.
Fewer Messes
Adopting an older dog will in most cases spare your floors, shoes, socks, hands, and furniture! Older dogs are likely to already be house trained. They aren’t going to teeth on your hands or furniture or steal your shoes. With their teething years far behind them, seniors also are much less likely to be destructive around your house in general. They may have years of energy and play left in them but they have learned to use that playfulness at appropriate times and with their toys.
Save a Life
Older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized at shelters and at rescues they are often the long term fosters. Everyone wants a puppy the youngest dog they can find but a senior dog has just as much love to give they are just ready to do it quietly. Older dogs still enjoy daily walks they just might not have long runs in them any longer. They often enjoy a game of catch or fetch followed by cuddling on the couch. Older dogs are happy hanging out during the day while you are at work and you don’t have to worry about your house being in one piece when you get home.
*All dogs featured in our graphic are currently available dogs on Petfinder.com
