Thinking about bringing home a furry friend? While pet stores and breeders do brisk business homing dogs, there are plenty of reasons to opt for an animal that's been rescued instead. Such as:
Dogs currently housed in shelters are often faced with an unfortunate future. If they donât find a home, they might get shuttled to another, less humane shelterâor worse. By adopting a dog, you're ensuring he or she stands a chance at enjoying their life to the fullest.
An animal that was once part of a family or has spent time around shelter volunteers has probably been taught some basic facts about life with people, including sitting, staying put, and where to deposit their business. By adopting a slightly older dog, youâll be saving yourself plenty of puppy-promoted trouble.
Dogs who have been through the shelter system need to be up to date on their shots and have likely already been spayed or neutered. It doesn't mean your dog will never have issues, but youâre more likely to be starting with a clean slate.
While pet shops and breeders seem to have a wide variety of animals to choose from, so do sheltersâmany of which can let you search their population by age or size.
Older dogs who have already expended their puppy energy are much less likely to tear into furniture or put wear on carpets. By adopting a mature animal, youâre helping preserve your living space.
A new puppyâespecially one from a pet store where the owners donât know the dogâs parentsâcan get bigger, more (or less) personable, and might develop a personality thatâs not compatible with your household. On the other hand, by rescuing an adolescent or adult animal from a shelter, its attitude will be on display from the moment you meet.
Dogs in shelters have often been fitted for a microchip in the event they wander or become lost, which can save you both moneyâand griefâin the long run. One study showed that just 22 percent of lost animals without microchips were returned to their owners, while more than 52 percent of microchipped animals were.
A slightly more mature dog that isnât bursting with energy is one thatâs more likely to enjoy lazy days outside or in front of the televisionâwhich is a huge plus if youâre someone who doesnât always have the time, or the energy, to keep up with a puppyâs activity level.
Itâs a common misconception that rescue shelters are the exclusive home of mixed-breed dogs. If you have your heart set on a particular type, you can find breed-specific adoption centers or take a look at a general population center: roughly 30 percent of all dogs up for adoption are purebreds.
Once you accept ownership of a pet at a pet shop or breeder, itâs generally yours for life. Many shelters, however, go the extra mile to find the best fit for their animals and prospective owners and will allow you to take a dog home for a weekend to see how he or she integrates into your lifestyle. If youâd like to try something longer-term, but arenât quite ready to adopt, consider fostering an animal from a local shelter.
Numerous studies have shown that having a canine companion can lead to increased happiness. If youâre suffering from any kind of condition requiring therapy, you might want to inquire about whether a dog could be a beneficial addition. Researchers believe that bonding with a dog can increase levels of oxytocin, a âfeel goodâ hormone.
You donât need a puppy in order to reinforce good habits or teach some cool party tricks. Older dogs actually have a better attention span than younger ones, making it simple to teach them behaviors that will help them better relax in your household.
The youthful exuberance of puppies can be stimulated even further by hyperactive kids, resulting in a small tornado of energy tearing through your home. Opting for an older dog, however, means theyâve probably already gotten used to having little people around and wonât be influencedâor annoyedâby enthusiastic human playmates.
Okay, so we have no hard science to back this up. But after spending weeks, months, or even years in a cramped cage, a dog thatâs brought home to an open living space and a yard is probably going to experience some post-shelter euphoria.
Selfies with your rescue dog: priceless.
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