Older Dogs Need Love Too

Meet Scruffy. He is an adorable Shih Tzu who is neutered, house-trained, purebred, and up-to-date on all of his shots. He is great with people, quiet, and laid back. However, Scruffy has a big problem. A problem that might keep him from ever finding a home. Lucky is 7 years old.

The sad truth is that dogs like Scruffy sit in shelters all over the country waiting for a new home—simply because they are older dogs. According to the American Humane Association, of all the people who bring home a new pet each year, only 20% of people choose to adopt. And unfortunately for Scruffy, almost all of those people want to adopt a puppy.

Puppies may seem like the obvious choice when adopting a dog, but there are many advantages to adopting an older dog. Older dogs adopted from shelters like Natalie’s Second Chance have typically had some sort of obedience training, and are usually housebroken (more so than a puppy would be, anyway). With an older dog, you know what health issues are present, and you have an idea of the temperament and size of your new best friend—with a puppy there may be health problems down the road, or you may be surprised at how big he or she grows.

It is important to remember that before adopting an older dog, it is always a smart idea to get a health report from a veterinarian and talk to a representative from the shelter to ensure the dog will be a good fit for your home. But adopting an older dog like Scruffy can mean more than you think. With all the craziness of puppy behavior out of the way, you can share with them the best years of their life. Plus, you can do your part to help prevent animal overpopulation by saving the life of a homeless dog. Most importantly, you’ll enjoy the unconditional love of your new best friend for years to come.