Are you looking for a devoted and loving canine companion who is mature and wellbehaved? Want a pet who will slip right into your busy lifestyle without major interruptions to your schedule? Then instead of taking on a puppy, who will require frequent feedings, potty breaks, and house training, consider adopting an older dog. There are many benefits to adopting a senior dog, according to Jeff Roberts, Executive Director of PAWS Atlanta. First and foremost, what you see is what you get. “You get a known entity,” Jeff explains. “You get to see exactly what the personality of the dog is. With a puppy, you don't quite know what the personality is going to be.”

You also won't have to deal with the baby-type behaviors that puppies exhibit. For instance, says Jeff, “chewing on your fancy shoes.” Susan Feingold, Assistant Director of Southern Hope Humane Society, adds that adopting an older dog is ideal for working people or busy families who don't want the hassle of dealing with an energetic puppy. “The first year of a dog's life can be very high energy; older dogs are calmer. For people who want a more laid back kind of pet, an older dog is a wise choice.”

Another reason an older dog fits well into busy lives—they are usually housebroken. But if not, they're easier to train than a puppy because they have more bladder control. “Young puppies have to be let out frequently throughout the day, whereas an older dog can hold it for longer," says Susan.

Older dogs are also used to being part of a family unit. Many of them are given up by their previous families due to change in life circumstances, such as a move. This means they are displaced pack members. Because of this, these dogs are “eager to please” the new family they join, says Kerry Moyers-Horton of No More Homeless Pets Atlanta. “Older dogs just fit right in.”

A dog reaches senior status around the age 8, depending on size and breed. But having an older dog does not necessarily equate to higher vet costs. “I've got a 17- year-old and an 18-year-old dog right now,” says Kerry, “and they don't cost any more than my younger dogs do.”

Perhaps the most compelling reason for giving an older dog a home is because there are so many more of them in need. “It's easy to move the cute little puppies out the door,” says Jeff Roberts. But older dogs, especially those at the shelter, are subject to misunderstandings that make it hard for them to find new homes—misunderstandings like that they're all rejects or have behavior problems. But these myths simply are not true. “Adult dogs [in shelters] have come upon hard times, so they're grateful," to be adopted, says Susan Feingold, "and they bond very quickly with their new family.”

By adopting an older dog, you'll be saving a life. Atlanta area shelters are forced to kill over 90,000 healthy pets a year due to the overpopulation problem, according to statistics posted at www.spotsociety.org. Adopting an adult dog, says Susan Feingold, “is the right thing to do. It teaches children a good lesson that an older dog is just as deserving of being saved” as a younger one.

Before taking home any dog, make sure it's a good match for both your family and the canine. Most shelters and rescue programs will be familiar with a dog's temperament and have ways to help you get to know a dog before making a decision. PAWS Atlanta has a one acre walking trail behind their facility that allows potential adopters and dogs to become acquainted. Southern Hope Humane has an adoption room available for meeting potential pets, and No More Homeless Pets encourages adopters to bring existing pets for visits to ensure that the new family member will be well received by everyone.

Adoption fees range from $85-$175 and may include spay/neuter, shots, and microchipping. What you'll get in return is priceless. Take it from Nancy Meyers, a Decatur resident who recently adopted 10-year old Annie from No More Homeless Pets. Nancy says her family couldn't be happier. “Annie has the most wonderful personality. I can't believe anybody abandoned her. She sleeps all night, and she was house-trained and leash-trained. She fit right into our schedule. We're very pleased.”

For more information on these and other great seniors, visit www.pawsatlanta.org
—Kelly L. Stone