It seems that most people who adopt a new pet want a puppy or a kitten. Over and over, sentences like, "they’re so cute when they’re little," and "I want an animal I can teach. You can’t change them when they’re older like you can when they’re young," are heard in the shelters.

It’s true, they ARE cute when they’re young. They also require a lot of time, work and patience. If you aren’t able to be home much, a kitten or puppy can stir up a lot of trouble. When the day at work has been stressful, very few people want to come home to see their house torn apart by a pet. Housebreaking is also more difficult when you can’t be there to take the puppy out at regular intervals. You wouldn’t leave a human toddler alone and kittens and puppies are animal toddlers. Curious and energetic, they can get into a lot of trouble in a very short amount of time.

"But I don’t want to get an older pet because they’re given up for a reason, and I don’t want someone else’s problem," you might be saying. It’s true, older pets are always given up for "a reason," but ask shelter staff what those reasons are and they’ll tell you that the most common reasons are that the previous owner was moving or was in a relationship and their new partner didn’t like the pet.

Adult animals have often been socialized to live in a home and many adult dogs are housebroken. It’s also easier to assess an adult pet’s personality. No matter how you treat a young animal, there’s a part of their personality which is genetic and often not seen until they mature. Be honest about your lifestyle and what you’re looking for in a pet. Talk with the person at the shelter or adoption agency and let them make suggestions regarding the right pet for you. They may say that a puppy or a kitten would be great in your home, but be open if they suggest an older pet. After all, age DOES have its advantages!

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