Why should I solve someone else’s problem? If the dog was so wonderful, why did they get rid of it?
Adult dogs lose their homes for many reasons. Most often, it is not because of bad behavior by the dog, but as a result of problems affecting the dog’s guardian. Many people believe that dogs arriving at shelters are genetically and psychologically inferior. Frequently, purebred, well-trained and useful dogs end up in shelters because they were acquired on an ill-considered impulse and their owners no longer want to take responsibility for them. Other causes of homelessness among adult dogs include the death or illness of their guardian, a change of job, a new child, moving to a place where keeping a dog is not possible, and allergies. A change in lifestyle: the prospective spouse does not like dogs.
What advantages do adult dogs have over young dogs or puppies?
Adult dogs offered for adoption have already received training in obedience and household manners. Some dogs, suddenly removed from their previous environment and placed in the unfamiliar and difficult surroundings of a shelter, may temporarily forget this training—but in a new, normal home, their memory will quickly return. They have already been taught what “not allowed” means, and they know how to respect furniture, carpets, shoes, and so on. They have already lived in a household, know what it means to be part of a pack, and can live alongside people and, in most cases, other dogs. Adult dogs—especially those who have experienced it before—appreciate human love and attention and know how to earn it. Adult dogs allow you to read the newspaper peacefully after a day at work, sitting quietly beside you. They are also eager companions for walks on a leash, playing fetch, and so on. Finally, adult dogs are a known quantity; it is easy to assess their behavior and temperament, as well as their size, since they have stopped growing.
Is there a good reason to adopt an older dog instead of a puppy that has its whole life ahead of it?
Generally, everyone who comes to a shelter is looking for a puppy or a young dog—three years old or younger. By adopting an older dog, we express both compassion and respect for life at every age, as well as protest against the thoughtless, inhumane breeding of dogs, whether for profit or for fun. And just as a puppy has its whole life ahead of it, an older dog also has the rest of its life ahead of it. You can give that dog a wonderful remainder of its life while also gaining a loyal companion for yourself and your family.
Do older dogs not require greater veterinary costs?
Veterinary checkups and treatment are necessary at every age. Before you adopt an older dog, you will receive all relevant information about its health from a veterinarian. If you learn that the dog has health problems, you can decide whether you want to adopt it and whether you can afford the financial commitment involved in its treatment.
Is it not true that an older dog can no longer be taught anything?
A dog can be taught at any age. The old saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” is completely untrue.
How long will it take an adult dog to get used to a new home?
Every adult dog has its own set of experiences, so it is difficult to predict how long its adjustment will take. In addition, if the dog has been in a shelter, its unpleasant experiences may leave it confused. Many dogs then forget household routines. Care, patience and loving understanding will help the dog forget its unpleasant experiences and remember what it was taught. This may take a few days, a few weeks or a few months.
Not every dog needs to live in a house, but we do not support keeping dogs on chains. For many of them, a warm kennel and run, or a utility room, together with guaranteed contact with their owner, would fulfill their dreams. The dogs are microchipped and vaccinated.
If you do not have the conditions to adopt, help us help them:
34 1090 1968 0000 0005 2205 9551
TOWARZYSTWO OPIEKI NAD ZWIERZĘTAMI W POLSCE
KOŁO W DŁUŻYNIE GÓRNEJ
DŁUŻYNA GÓRNA 1F
59-930 Pieńsk
Animal Shelter, Dłużyna Górna 1F, tel. 75 778 04 12; volunteers’ telephone numbers: 601 079 807, 606 275 859.