Choosing a Pet

Adopting Older Dogs

One, going on two. Is that too old to be adopted? For a lot of dogs, it is. Many of the dogs in our shelter are between six and 24 months old. When they were puppies, someone wanted them and took them home. Then they grew up, spending most of their time in the backyard. The people who thought they were such cute puppies didn't like them very much when they grew big.

No one ever took the time to teach them to sit, stay, stop barking or any of the other rules that make good dogs such good company. But these dogs are good dogs; they just have bad manners.

Each one is a miracle waiting to happen, a diamond in the rough. They are smart, and they love people. They are young enough to learn quickly, and old enough to pay attention to their lessons. They only need three things: attention, affection and training. With these, they will soon become super dogs, the kind your friends wish they could own. And they can, if they look for a dog that's one, going on two.

Reprinted courtesy of The American Humane Association

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