 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
| IN PRAISE OF OLDER DOGS |
There are three significant reasons for adopting an older dog:
1. Hygiene. Older dogs have been housetrained. Puppies have smaller
bladders and have to relieve themselves frequently, meaning accidents will
happen. This is not because the puppy is disobedient. It's simply that puppies
can't hold it in very long. If you can't commit to allowing your pet to relieve
itself during the day, that will be a problem for the puppy and for you.
2. Personality. For the most part, what you see is what you get. An older
dog's personality has already been established and will not change much. If
you see an older dog that is gentle, kind to humans of all ages, playful and
obedient, then you have an older dog that is the perfect candidate to
complete your family. Don't get me wrong, puppies are absolutely adorable,
but you really don't know what they'll be like when they grow up. That puppy
could grow up to be an exceptional dog or your worst nightmare.
3. Health. An older pet adopted from a shelter or rescue organization is
more likely to have been carefully screened to determine its health,
personality, socialization skills and temperament toward people. The rescue
or shelter's primary reason for giving special attention to screening each dog
is to ensure that the pet will be placed in the right home with the right family.
This is to prevent the little "surprises" that cause families to return pets. The
primary goal for shelters and rescues is to provide a permanent, safe home
for the dog.
1. Hygiene. Older dogs have been housetrained. Puppies have smaller
bladders and have to relieve themselves frequently, meaning accidents will
happen. This is not because the puppy is disobedient. It's simply that puppies
can't hold it in very long. If you can't commit to allowing your pet to relieve
itself during the day, that will be a problem for the puppy and for you.
2. Personality. For the most part, what you see is what you get. An older
dog's personality has already been established and will not change much. If
you see an older dog that is gentle, kind to humans of all ages, playful and
obedient, then you have an older dog that is the perfect candidate to
complete your family. Don't get me wrong, puppies are absolutely adorable,
but you really don't know what they'll be like when they grow up. That puppy
could grow up to be an exceptional dog or your worst nightmare.
3. Health. An older pet adopted from a shelter or rescue organization is
more likely to have been carefully screened to determine its health,
personality, socialization skills and temperament toward people. The rescue
or shelter's primary reason for giving special attention to screening each dog
is to ensure that the pet will be placed in the right home with the right family.
This is to prevent the little "surprises" that cause families to return pets. The
primary goal for shelters and rescues is to provide a permanent, safe home
for the dog.
Sometimes Seniors find themselves in rescue because their humans can no
longer take care of them or go to a nursing home or even die. But often these
guys, and so many more like them, are abandoned, dumped, cast aside for
only one reason: they got old. When this happens, it is a complete failure in
responsibility and compassion on the part of the people these wonderful dogs
trusted all their lives. These should be their golden years, enjoying long naps,
good food, warm mornings sunning their tired bones on the patio or deck,
evening walks and cuddles in the protective love of their grateful families.
Instead, too often their loyalty and companionship are repaid with a cage in
an animal shelter, on the list to be euthanized as 'unadoptable'--because they
grew 'too old.' Or sometimes the dogs are abandoned because the kids those
very dogs were originally purchased for as companions grew up and left
home. They leave their old sidekicks behind along with their childhoods, and
to parents who now want to live their own lives and don't see the dog as part
of their plans any longer. And, even more reprehensible, sometimes these
senior dogs are cast aside simply because the family wants another puppy,
and the current dog is now expendable in their eyes. In a society that
over-values youthfulness and neglects older citizens, it is not surprising that
some owners take the same attitude toward older dogs; but it is not right, nor
is it fair.
longer take care of them or go to a nursing home or even die. But often these
guys, and so many more like them, are abandoned, dumped, cast aside for
only one reason: they got old. When this happens, it is a complete failure in
responsibility and compassion on the part of the people these wonderful dogs
trusted all their lives. These should be their golden years, enjoying long naps,
good food, warm mornings sunning their tired bones on the patio or deck,
evening walks and cuddles in the protective love of their grateful families.
Instead, too often their loyalty and companionship are repaid with a cage in
an animal shelter, on the list to be euthanized as 'unadoptable'--because they
grew 'too old.' Or sometimes the dogs are abandoned because the kids those
very dogs were originally purchased for as companions grew up and left
home. They leave their old sidekicks behind along with their childhoods, and
to parents who now want to live their own lives and don't see the dog as part
of their plans any longer. And, even more reprehensible, sometimes these
senior dogs are cast aside simply because the family wants another puppy,
and the current dog is now expendable in their eyes. In a society that
over-values youthfulness and neglects older citizens, it is not surprising that
some owners take the same attitude toward older dogs; but it is not right, nor
is it fair.
So, in rescue work, the preponderance of animals needing help are older.
Like all living beings that survive babyhood and youthful indiscretions,
they grew older. Sometimes they get a touch of arthritis, suffer a bit of
vision or hearing loss; they slow down as we all do. But their love doesn't
slow down; nor does their loyalty abate with age.
Older dogs are endearing companions who have years left in them to give
love and service to their attentive humans; in fact, adoption into a loving
home often re-energizes these dogs who amaze their owners with how
young at heart and active they really are.
Like all living beings that survive babyhood and youthful indiscretions,
they grew older. Sometimes they get a touch of arthritis, suffer a bit of
vision or hearing loss; they slow down as we all do. But their love doesn't
slow down; nor does their loyalty abate with age.
Older dogs are endearing companions who have years left in them to give
love and service to their attentive humans; in fact, adoption into a loving
home often re-energizes these dogs who amaze their owners with how
young at heart and active they really are.
 |  |  |
|
| |||||||||||
