Kittens, puppies, and other baby animals are definitely most people’s first choice when deciding to adopt a pet. The appeal of adopting a baby animal is obvious: they are cute, tiny, and are likely to be around for a long time. However, more people should consider adopting older pets for the following reasons:
1. Easier to train/settle down easier
Puppies: they are teething, they need potty trained, and they do not know simple commands such as “sit” and “stay.” This is not likely the case for older dogs. Shelters commonly take the time to train the dogs that they are taking care of, so it will not be a part of your responsibility. Even animals other than dogs will be more apt to settle in quickly. Older animals will become a part of your family in no time.
2. More likely to be well-mannered
With age comes maturity; kittens and puppies do not know the first thing about manners. Older animals will be much calmer and will not likely destroy furniture or other belongings.
3. You know important aspects of the animal in advance
What you see is what you get with older animals. Picking the right animal for you will be much easier if you can already see their personality. Also, while this only really applies to dogs, knowing the full-grown size of the dog in advance can be helpful.
4. They are much easier to take care of
With puppies and kittens, be prepared to have your life revolve around them until they settle in. With older animals, it is much easier to have freedom to do what you please and not focus on your new animal 24/7. Also, with older animals being calmer, you will be able to relax more while you are at home. Yes, older cats and dogs do need exercise, but not nearly to the extent that puppies and kittens do.
5. It can be easier to bond with an older animal from the start
With puppies and kittens, the majority of your time spent while getting to know them is spent training them, scolding them, or chasing them around. On the other hand, with older animals, it is easier to make a personal connection with them right from the start.
6. Animal shelters have a huge number of older animals that have a much smaller chance of getting adopted
Younger animals are always in high demand, but older animals need homes, too. Shelters tend to be full of older cats and dogs, and the chance of them finding a home is much slimmer than that of a baby animal. Older dogs and cats need homes just as much as kittens and puppies do.
7. You can be a hero
Older animals, especially if they have spent any significant time in a shelter, know that they are getting adopted and will appreciate it for the rest of their lives. They will have such strong loving emotions towards you, and you can feel good knowing that you rescued an animal that might not have been adopted if it were not for you.