Why adopt an adult cat or dog?First, they’re kittens and puppies. They wiggle and totter and fall in love with us as we fall for them. Kittens and puppies remind us what it’s like to start on life’s great adventures, but they require a lot more work than adult cats and dogs do. They make messes on your floor, they scratch and chew on your furniture, and they pull at your drapes and your patience.

Grown dogs and cats have already Been There, Done That. They understand the basic rules of life, and they know that you’ll teach them whatever else they need to learn. They’ve already developed into what they were going to be, but they still have plenty of love to give.

Puppies and kittens can almost always find a home. Older dogs and cats often can’t. If you adopt an adult dog or cat, you’ve not only bypassed the puppy and kitten accidents and training, but you’ve got yourself an appreciative, mature companion. As the bond between you grows, you’ll remember that you helped give your pet new life.

Where to find a dog or cat to adopt

• Newspaper classifieds often have ads for older animals that need new homes. If you visit pets in their current homes, you’ll get a good idea of their temperament and how they interact with different people. You’ll also be able to discuss their needs with the people who know them best.
• Animal shelters such as the SPCA have lots of grown dogs and cats waiting for adoption. While it’s more difficult to assess their personalities when they’re in an unfamiliar setting, you’ll see a variety of animals to choose from.Links to websites for animal shelters and rescue organizations throughout the US are in the Odor Destroyer Pet Resource Directory.
• Animal rescue organizations spend time matching pets with adopters. The rescue volunteers will be able to describe the animals’ personalities and what type of home is the most suitable for each cat and dog. They’ll probably have a questionnaire for you to fill out, and they may ask for references. Some dog rescue organizations take in all breeds and mixed breeds, while breed rescue organizations rescue purebred dogs of a specific breed. Cat rescue organizations are sometimes breed specific, but the majority rescue all kinds of cats.To find an animal rescue organization in your area, see in the Odor Destroyer Pet Resource Directory. Or, do an online search for “dog rescue” or “cat rescue” and the name of your city. Include a breed name in the search if you’re looking for a specific breed.

How to choose an adult dog or cat to adopt

Purebred dogs and cats

If you plan to adopt a purebred pet, research the breed as you would do when adopting a puppy or kitten. Consider the breed’s needs for space, companionship, and other breed-specific requirements. Some dogs require professional grooming, for example. Others may be too aggressive for children, or need more exercise than you can provide. Cat breeds also each have their own characteristics.

All varieties of dogs and cats

When you meet dogs and cats that are available to be adopted, learn their history if possible. Some animals prefer to be “only” pets, while others enjoy the company of other animals in their home. Why was the cat or dog given up for adoption? Does the animal have health problems that require extra medical care or special food? Consider both your budget and your available time to take care of the pet’s needs.

Cat and dog behavior

Observe a potential adoptee dog’s behavior with different people — male and female, and adults and children, including household members if possible. Does the dog appear to be friendly, aggressive, dominant, submissive, fearful? These traits may or may not be problems, depending on your experience with dogs and your situation. See if you can take the dog for a walk to get to know him in a different environment, more than once if possible.

Cats are happiest when they’re in a place they consider home, so they tend to be more stressed when they’re in a shelter. Give cats time to respond to you, and ask their caregivers about their personalities. Some are more independent and aloof, some crave affection, some tend to be playful, and some are more loyal or easygoing than others.

Who to bring home

The goal is to find a cat or dog that can become part of your family. Research different breeds if you’re looking for a purebred animal, spend time with animals you’re considering adopting, and learn the animals’ backgrounds. Having to return an animal to a shelter or rescue is hard on the animal and on the family. A well-considered adoption, on the other hand, can be the beginning of a bond that grows for years.

Some have been abused. They may have lived in real homes until their families lost interest in them, and they were discarded like old toys. The luckier ones lived with people who loved them but were no longer able to take care of them. They came from humane societies or crowded animal shelters, or were found on the street. All of them are waiting at a pet rescue for a new home, where they can love and be loved in return.Starting over isn’t easy, but in the success stories at animal rescue organization websites, you can read how dogs, cats, guinea pigs, horses, and other animals adapted to their new homes and families. And when we change animals’ lives by giving them a second chance, they change our lives too.

What animal rescue organizations do

According to The Animal Rescue Site, “Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the US alone because they are unwanted, abandoned, or abused.” That’s a statistic that animal rescue organizations would like to change. Common goals listed at their websites:

• To rescue homeless and abandoned animals
• To provide veterinary treatment if needed
• To find suitable homes for the animals they rescue
• To promote responsible pet ownership

Animal rescue organizations typically rescue one type of animal. Dog rescue organizations are usually breed rescues – they may rescue just boxers or dachshunds or golden retrievers, for example. Some focus on small dogs or big dogs. Most cat rescue organizations take in all kinds of cats, although some rescue only breeds such as Siamese cats or Persian cats. In addition, there are horse rescues, rabbit rescues, bird rescues, reptile rescues, and rescues for other kinds of animals.

Differences between animal rescue organizations and animal shelters

While both animal rescue organizations and animal shelters help find animals new homes, their structures and procedures are different.

Structure

• Animal shelters may be national organizations, which receive some government funding. Most animal rescue organizations are community organizations, which rely entirely on donations.
• Most animal rescues are completely volunteer-run. Shelters also have volunteers, but they probably have paid staff as well.
• Animal shelters often have puppies, kittens, and other young animals that are dropped off. Rescue organizations are not likely to have young animals.
• Animal shelters have permanent facilities where the public can view the animals in one location. Some rescue organizations also have permanent facilities, but others have only foster homes, where volunteers take care of the animals until a “forever home” is found for them.
• Animal shelters are better known than animal rescue organizations.

Procedures

• Most animal shelters help save different kinds of animals, but animal rescues usually take in one type of animal, often only one breed. Because of their breed focus, they know more about the characteristics and needs of the animals they rescue. Rescue organizations often take animals from shelters and use their specialized knowledge to place them.
• While both types of organizations aim to find suitable homes for each animal, rescue organizations have a screening process to match people with animals. Applicants usually fill out an application form, and they may be interviewed before even seeing adoptable animals. Once a match is found, adopters may need to sign an adoption agreement.
• Rescue organizations have a no-kill policy. Increasingly, so do many animal shelters, but due to overcrowding, millions of healthy animals are still killed every year.

How you can help

• Volunteer at a pet rescue
• Donate money, time, pet food, pet bedding, and whatever else your local rescue needs
• Buy products (T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more) from their online stores or affiliates
• Sponsor a pet (some pet rescue organizations provide this option)
• Foster pets while they’re waiting for adoption
• Send this article to other people who may be interested in adopting an animal from a pet rescue

The biggest way you can help, of course, is to adopt a pet. The rescue volunteers will thank you, and so will the animals you adopt.

Links

Breed rescue organizations
Rescue organizations categorized by animal type and breed with locations listed next to each link. Mostly in the US.

Animal shelters
Animal shelters and rescue organizations organized by US state.