Watching everyone’s posts from the Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week challenge has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had to date. The sheer number and diversity of the stories coming from all corners of the pet loving world have been an unexpected delight.
The overarching sentiment running through every post? Hope. Hope that a post about a specific pet might touch the right person, or a discussion on a specific condition might cause a person to think twice the next time they are looking for a new family member.
I think so many of us go into this whole rescue a less adoptable pet thing with the idea that we are magnanimously taking on a charity case. Well, at least I know I did. Then after a month or a year or however long it takes for this being to grow into your life and your heart, you realize this: you have gained more than you ever could possibly give. There is a give-and-take with these pets that simply cannot be replicated in any other way.
It would be impossible to choose my favorites from the challenge posts that up right now since they are all fabulous, but I selected a handful that represent the wide variety of topics that bloggers have covered this week. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I thought I would point you to them:
Eight Reasons to Adopt a Senior Pet: from Will my Dog Hate Me
Size, shape, personality, even activity levels — they’re all right there before you in an older dog. You won’t be surprised when that cute mystery mix turns into a huge chowhound. Not every senior dog is going to be perfect for you, just as not every young dog will be. But you’ll know right off if you’re a good fit.
Black cats are the new black: from Your Daily Cute
Now look at their personality — this, my friends, is where they can excel. Notice how loving they are. Notice how loud they purr. Take the time to see that they are full of life, full of fun and full of cute. Don’t just glance over to the next cat because they don’t have cute markings or silly stripes…
Pit Bulls- It’s Not All in How They’re Raised: from change.org
Here’s where people get it backwards: It doesn’t take a good person to raise a good pit bull; it takes a very, very bad person to raise a bad pit bull.
Adopt a Mustang: from Two Old Horses and Me
Maybe it’s that I was raised in Wyoming in the era of kids playing cowboys and Indians. Maybe it’s that I’m connected in my soul with horses, maybe it’s just that I’m a bleeding heart liberal (which I’ve been called a time or two.) I don’t like to see animals mistreated. Any animals.
Interview with Poppy from the Blind Cat Rescue: from SparkleCat
Oh! Want to hear a funny story? I had an accident on the floor and mom stepped in it this morning when she was feeding us. You know how I know? She started yelling, “Ew ew ew!” and ran out of the room! LOL, and you say I am the blind one — I didn’t step in it!
A Visit With Napoleon from Friends of Humane Society de Tijuana (yes, he’s still looking for his forever home!)
Got a favorite post from this week I didn’t mention? Feel free to post it below!
Great roundup of posts!
Thanks for including my post in this roundup. Now I have my morning reading laid out for me. I’d already read the Pit Bull post from Care.org and can’t praise it enough; looking forward to the others.
There are so many great posts!! I’m just amazed! Getting to be a part of the challenge is great, and reading everyone else’s stories has been inspiring. (Though, I have this desire to rush out and adopt a new pet, and we can’t do that right now! Yikes!)
Hi Dr. V.
Thanks so much for the shout out in today’s blog. My two old horses, my aging earless (adorable) cat and I thank you. I agree that it’s been great to read the many and varied posts.
Great round up. There are so many, many pets out there that need to find a home so another unlucky one can come into rescue, that it’s difficult to select just one. Well, I ended up featuring several…’cause I couldn’t make up my mind and my humans were no help!
Hawk aka BrownDog
We adopted* an older dog and it’s *awesome.* Sunshine the Corgi had just turned 9 when we got her, and she’s the perfect dog! She had lived her whole life in a garage/backyard, but she miraculously has never had an accident in the house. She has energy but she’s not wild like a puppy. She doesn’t jump on people She’s a bit skittish because she went from quiet suburban backyard to noisy city, but she adjusted very well.
Most importantly I can see that Sunny appreciates her new life. She is just such a happy girl. She loves her tummy rubs and cuddles – and when you give her a rawhide bone she just gets this look of exstacy on her face!
Older dogs rock!
*(well she belonged to my fiance’s family but she was kinda neglected, and also she was new to us)
Oh and if you’re worried about an older dog not bonding with you – don’t believe that hype! Sunny fell in love with us just as fast as we did with her. You can tell she knows we’re her mommy and daddy. She also fell into her new routine very smoothly.