Top Ten Reasons to Consider a Rescue
(borrowed from a 9/15/1999 webpage edition of the Golden Hearts Golden Retriever Rescue of Central Arkansas. No active link to this organization was found 4/24/04)
"Why on earth would anyone want to adopt a rescued dog? After all, aren't they like used cars? Who wants someone else's problems? If the dog is so wonderful, why whould anyone give it away? If it was a stray, why didn't someone try to find it? I'd rather buy a golden puppy so I KNOW what I'm getting, and besides they're so cute!"
Golden Retriever Rescuers often hear a variation of this conversation. Many prospective golden owners are just not convinced that owning an older (i.e. 6 months+) "pre-owned golden" (also any mutt, or other breed) is better than buying a puppy. But there are a number of reasons why adopting a golden retiever from a rescue that carefully screens and evaluates its goldens can provide an even better alternative. Here are "10 Top Reasons You Should Consider a Rescue."
10. In a Word--HOUSEBROKEN. With most family members gone during the work week for 8 hours or longer, housetraining a puppy and its small bladder can take awhile. Puppies need a consistent schedule with frequent opportunities to eliminate appropriately. They can't wait for the boss to finish her meeting or the kids to come home from after-school activities. An older dog can "hold it" much more reliably for longer time periods. Often, the Rescue foster family has successfully taught the rescue dog to be housebroken before it is adopted.
9. Intact Underwear. With a chewy puppy, you can count on at least 10 mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of unmentionables rendered to the "rag bag" before she cuts every tooth. Also, you can expect holes in your carpet (along with the urine stains), pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from furniture, and at least one dead remote control. No matter how well you watch a puppy, it will happen--this is the puppy's job! An older dog can usually have the run of the house without destroying it.
8. A Good Night's Sleep. Forget the alarm clocks and hot water bottles, a puppy can be very demanding at 2am and 4am and 6am. She misses her littermates and that stuffed animal will not make a puppy pile with her. If you have children, you've been there and done that. How about a little peace and quiet? How about an older rescue golden--or one with a "golden" nature?
7. Finish the Newspaper. With a puppy running amok in your house, do you think you will be able to relax when you get home from work? Do you think your kids will really feed him, clean up the messes, take him for a walk in the pouring rain every hour to get him housetrained? With an adult dog, it will only be the kids running amok, because your golden child will be sitting calmly next to you. Your workday stress just flows away and your blood pressure lowers as you pet him.
6. Easier Vet Trips. Those puppies need their series of puppy shots and fecals; and then their rabies shot, a trip to be altered, maybe an emergency trip or two if they've swallowed something dangerous. Those puppy visits can add up. In contrast, your adoption fee to the rescue group for the rescue dog includes all shots current, already altered, and complete health check.
5. What You See Is What You Get. How big will that puppy be? What kind of temperament will she have? Will she be easily trained? Will her personality be what you were hoping for? How active will she be? When adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those questions are easily answered. You can pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its foster homes can guide you to pick just the right animal. (Our rescue and the shelter is full of puppies who became the wrong match within weeks or months!)
4. Unscarred Children (and Adults). When the puppy isn't teething on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and yourself. Our rescue group routinely gets calls from panicked parents who are sure their golden is biting the children. Since biting implies hostile intent and would be a consideration whether we accept their give-up, we ask questions and usually find out the dog is being "mouthy". Parents are often too emotional to see the difference, but a growing puppy is going to put everything from food to clothes and body parts in their mouths. As the puppy gets older and bigger, chewing or nips definately hurt (and can get worse if the pup is not appropriately corrected). Most older dogs have "been there, done that" and moved on.
3. Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me a Match. Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15 years or longer. Even if that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter, he may grow up to superactive (when what you wanted was a calm couch buddy). Conversely, the dog may grow up to be a slow couch potato when what you wanted was a tireless hiking companion. The dog may want to spend every waking moment in the water, and you can't bear the thought of wet fur or dripping paws. Pet mis-matches are one of the top reasons rescues get give-up phone calls. Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both the rescue dogs and the prospective adoption families to be sure that both golden and family will be happy with one another until death them do part.
2. Instant Companion. With an older golden, you automatically have a buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope he will like to do what you enjoy). You will have been able to select the most compatible dog--one that travels well, one that loves to play with your friends dogs, one with excellent house manners. You can come home after a long day's work and spend your time on a relaxing walk, ride or swim with your new best friend (rather than cleaning up after a small puppy).
1. Bond --GOLDEN BOND. Goldens given up from happy homes have a solid start; and likewise, young adults who have not had the best start in life are both more likely to bond quickly with their new homes. Those dogs who have experienced trauma, be it mistreatment, abuse, or death, divorce, or signifant lifestyle change tend to go through a prolonged (and sometimes debillitating) mourning process. These poor souls are society's most needy. But, once they have been supported and helped in regaining a happy outlook, they seem to want to please as much as possible. The human attachment can become the strongest with these goldens. Those goldens just learning about the good life and good people are so grateful. They know what life on the steets, life on the end of a chain--or worse, is all about. They revel and blossom in a nurturing, loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.
****************
Unfortunately, many folks think dogs that end up in rescue arel genetically or behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for us to get $500 to $1200 dogs that have either outlived their "usefulness" or their novelty with impulsive owners who considered their dog a possession rather than a friend or member of the family. Some misguided people simply did not consider the time, effort, and expense needed to be a dog owner. Or, they discovered they didn't like all the additional cleaning chores associated with shedding hair, grooming, kennel and lawn cleaning, etc.
Not all breeders have been accepting "returns", so choices for giving up dogs can be limited to animal welfare organizations (such as Golden Retriever Rescue of Fairbanks), or shelters. Sometimes the relinquishing owners try to place their own dogs. Good rescue groups will thoroughly evaluate the dog before accepting him/her (behaviorally, medically, and physically). The group will then rehabilitate if necessary, and adopt the animal only when it is ready; and when a good match can be made with a commited, stable loving new family.
Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased puppy will not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only responsible pet owners and breeders can do that!). Choosing rescue does save many companion animals from euthanasia. Beyond doing a "good deed", adopting a rescued dog can be the best decision and addition to the family you've ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life!
"Why on earth would anyone want to adopt a rescued dog? After all, aren't they like used cars? Who wants someone else's problems? If the dog is so wonderful, why whould anyone give it away? If it was a stray, why didn't someone try to find it? I'd rather buy a golden puppy so I KNOW what I'm getting, and besides they're so cute!"
Golden Retriever Rescuers often hear a variation of this conversation. Many prospective golden owners are just not convinced that owning an older (i.e. 6 months+) "pre-owned golden" (also any mutt, or other breed) is better than buying a puppy. But there are a number of reasons why adopting a golden retiever from a rescue that carefully screens and evaluates its goldens can provide an even better alternative. Here are "10 Top Reasons You Should Consider a Rescue."
10. In a Word--HOUSEBROKEN. With most family members gone during the work week for 8 hours or longer, housetraining a puppy and its small bladder can take awhile. Puppies need a consistent schedule with frequent opportunities to eliminate appropriately. They can't wait for the boss to finish her meeting or the kids to come home from after-school activities. An older dog can "hold it" much more reliably for longer time periods. Often, the Rescue foster family has successfully taught the rescue dog to be housebroken before it is adopted.
9. Intact Underwear. With a chewy puppy, you can count on at least 10 mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of unmentionables rendered to the "rag bag" before she cuts every tooth. Also, you can expect holes in your carpet (along with the urine stains), pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from furniture, and at least one dead remote control. No matter how well you watch a puppy, it will happen--this is the puppy's job! An older dog can usually have the run of the house without destroying it.
8. A Good Night's Sleep. Forget the alarm clocks and hot water bottles, a puppy can be very demanding at 2am and 4am and 6am. She misses her littermates and that stuffed animal will not make a puppy pile with her. If you have children, you've been there and done that. How about a little peace and quiet? How about an older rescue golden--or one with a "golden" nature?
7. Finish the Newspaper. With a puppy running amok in your house, do you think you will be able to relax when you get home from work? Do you think your kids will really feed him, clean up the messes, take him for a walk in the pouring rain every hour to get him housetrained? With an adult dog, it will only be the kids running amok, because your golden child will be sitting calmly next to you. Your workday stress just flows away and your blood pressure lowers as you pet him.
6. Easier Vet Trips. Those puppies need their series of puppy shots and fecals; and then their rabies shot, a trip to be altered, maybe an emergency trip or two if they've swallowed something dangerous. Those puppy visits can add up. In contrast, your adoption fee to the rescue group for the rescue dog includes all shots current, already altered, and complete health check.
5. What You See Is What You Get. How big will that puppy be? What kind of temperament will she have? Will she be easily trained? Will her personality be what you were hoping for? How active will she be? When adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those questions are easily answered. You can pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its foster homes can guide you to pick just the right animal. (Our rescue and the shelter is full of puppies who became the wrong match within weeks or months!)
4. Unscarred Children (and Adults). When the puppy isn't teething on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and yourself. Our rescue group routinely gets calls from panicked parents who are sure their golden is biting the children. Since biting implies hostile intent and would be a consideration whether we accept their give-up, we ask questions and usually find out the dog is being "mouthy". Parents are often too emotional to see the difference, but a growing puppy is going to put everything from food to clothes and body parts in their mouths. As the puppy gets older and bigger, chewing or nips definately hurt (and can get worse if the pup is not appropriately corrected). Most older dogs have "been there, done that" and moved on.
3. Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me a Match. Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15 years or longer. Even if that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter, he may grow up to superactive (when what you wanted was a calm couch buddy). Conversely, the dog may grow up to be a slow couch potato when what you wanted was a tireless hiking companion. The dog may want to spend every waking moment in the water, and you can't bear the thought of wet fur or dripping paws. Pet mis-matches are one of the top reasons rescues get give-up phone calls. Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both the rescue dogs and the prospective adoption families to be sure that both golden and family will be happy with one another until death them do part.
2. Instant Companion. With an older golden, you automatically have a buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope he will like to do what you enjoy). You will have been able to select the most compatible dog--one that travels well, one that loves to play with your friends dogs, one with excellent house manners. You can come home after a long day's work and spend your time on a relaxing walk, ride or swim with your new best friend (rather than cleaning up after a small puppy).
1. Bond --GOLDEN BOND. Goldens given up from happy homes have a solid start; and likewise, young adults who have not had the best start in life are both more likely to bond quickly with their new homes. Those dogs who have experienced trauma, be it mistreatment, abuse, or death, divorce, or signifant lifestyle change tend to go through a prolonged (and sometimes debillitating) mourning process. These poor souls are society's most needy. But, once they have been supported and helped in regaining a happy outlook, they seem to want to please as much as possible. The human attachment can become the strongest with these goldens. Those goldens just learning about the good life and good people are so grateful. They know what life on the steets, life on the end of a chain--or worse, is all about. They revel and blossom in a nurturing, loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.
****************
Unfortunately, many folks think dogs that end up in rescue arel genetically or behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for us to get $500 to $1200 dogs that have either outlived their "usefulness" or their novelty with impulsive owners who considered their dog a possession rather than a friend or member of the family. Some misguided people simply did not consider the time, effort, and expense needed to be a dog owner. Or, they discovered they didn't like all the additional cleaning chores associated with shedding hair, grooming, kennel and lawn cleaning, etc.
Not all breeders have been accepting "returns", so choices for giving up dogs can be limited to animal welfare organizations (such as Golden Retriever Rescue of Fairbanks), or shelters. Sometimes the relinquishing owners try to place their own dogs. Good rescue groups will thoroughly evaluate the dog before accepting him/her (behaviorally, medically, and physically). The group will then rehabilitate if necessary, and adopt the animal only when it is ready; and when a good match can be made with a commited, stable loving new family.
Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased puppy will not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only responsible pet owners and breeders can do that!). Choosing rescue does save many companion animals from euthanasia. Beyond doing a "good deed", adopting a rescued dog can be the best decision and addition to the family you've ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life!
