The Northwest Voice

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It’s easy to fall in love at a shelter, especially in late spring or early summer when there seems to be an abundance of puppies and kittens yipping, squirming and climbing about. The mere sight of their awkward adolescent bodies is enough to melt the heart of anyone who has ever had a pet.

For older shelter animals, the situation is far different.

The stress of suddenly finding themselves in a noisy, unfamiliar environment surrounded by 100 or so strange animals and a routine far different than anything they’ve known can leave them looking and acting like the last creature you’d want to invite into your home. Which is too bad, because older pets are often a terrific choice for a lifetime companion.

Sure, they may have outgrown the cute and fuzzies, but an adult animal shows you exactly what you’re going to get size-wise and grooming requirement-wise. And behind those grown-up eyes may well be a host of training commands already mastered, including knowing where to use the bathroom, how to sit when asked and the meaning of the word “no.”

People viewing adult animals in a shelter frequently want to blame the victim, convinced that the creature behind the bars must have done something to earn their way into their cage. In reality, that is almost never the case. Besides the more common reasons of divorce, death in the family and “didn’t have enough time,” now, with today’s mortgage crisis, many grown pets are given up simply because owners didn’t have anywhere to take them and hoped against hope that placing them in a shelter would give their pet another chance at a happy life.

Might it take a little more time to discover the nuances of an older pet’s personality? Sure, but if you’re committed to adopting a pet for life, you’ll have all the time you need. Will an older pet need training? Perhaps, but if you adopt a puppy, you’d need to train him or her, too, so don’t let that stop you. Besides, training creates lasting bonds and is a fast way to a pet’s heart.

I know it’s hard to resist the little guys, and in some circumstances, a youngster might be best for your situation. But if there’s room, even a little room, in your decision-making process, consider adopting one of the adults who are anxiously awaiting a forever home. The rewards may be greater than you can imagine.

— Have a question, comment or story about an adult pet adoption? E-mail Vicky at: pawprintcitytimes@sbcglobal.net or visit: www.pawprintcitytimes.com