Adopting a Shelter Animal

Living with a pet can be very beneficial to children. New research conducted by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) shows that household pets positively influence children's health, emotional development, and education. "Children tend to form very special attachments to companion animals. Through learning to care for and understand animals," says Elizabeth Ormond, chair of SCAS, "children develop greater empathy for other people."

Since you want these benefits for your kids, and since dogs are America's pet of choice, why not adopt a dog and teach your children another valuable lesson in the process?

The lesson? It's better to give than to receive...but it's best to do both at once. The number of animals in shelters-and the number being euthanized-is dropping. People are discovering that pet adoption is a viable, rewarding alternative to buying from breeders; they're discovering that through adoption they can both give a pet a happy home, and receive the adoration that only an animal friend can so unshakably provide. Nevertheless, a hidden front remains in the battle against animal homelessness, and it comes in the shape of adult dogs. "Eighty-percent of dogs available on petfinder.com are adult dogs," reminds Betsy Saul, President and Founder of the Website.

Ironically, adult dogs are a better choice for families with children. Here are just a few reasons you should consider adopting an adult dog if you want your kids to capitalize on canine benefits.

1.IT'S BETTER TO GIVE... While adopting a pet from a shelter is a noble and commendable action, period, adopting an adult animal is even more openhearted. "There is a compelling moral reason," to adopt adult pets, says Saul. "Adult dogs are waiting...fruitlessly while people seek a puppy." Younger dogs stand a much better chance of finding good homes. By adopting an adult dog, and explaining to your children why you're doing it, you can help bolster their self-esteem. Studies show that kids' esteems benefit from the knowledge that they saved a life in direr jeopardy than that of a puppy's.
2.IT'S ALSO NICE TO RECEIVE... Research has shown that rescued adult pets appreciate their new home and guardians more than younger animals, making the bond between adult pet and your children stronger.
3.WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET... Like people, adult animals have already developed personalities. When adopting a young pet, it's impossible to predict how the animal will ultimately behave around kids; but with many shelters now using temperament-tests and foster homes during an adult animal's shelter stay, you'll know who the pet is before bringing it home. You can even find out if the adult dog lived with children before...this is a huge bonus!
4.SELECTION, SELECTION, SELECTION... The majority of homeless pets are adults. As a result, by choosing maturity over youth, you have a virtually endless selection of breeds, dispositions, coats, colors, sizes, and more. This is valuable, when you consider that size and breed are extremely important when selecting a family dog.
-- SIZE: You might think that a smaller breed is better for children. This is not necessarily true. Smaller breed dogs tend to be inadvertently hurt during play with children, and they scare more easily. Frightened dogs may snap at your kids if they feel threatened.
-- BREED: Sporting breeds, like Labradors and golden retrievers, make great pets for families with children. Shy away from protective breeds like chows and Rottweilers (they often view children as "invaders"), and from herding breeds (they may try to "herd" your kids by nipping at their heels).
-- WHEN REARING REARS ITS TROUBLESOME HEAD... It's no secret: inviting a new puppy into a home is like bringing in a tornado. Without constant supervision, furniture quickly becomes the young pet's meal, rugs its restroom, and puppies can unwittingly injure smaller children. Puppies have small, sharp teeth that can accidentally hurt a child. They also frequently jump around, posing the danger of knocking your children down. With an adult dog, these risks are minimized, and you probably won't have to replace that Turkish rug in the living room.

HOW YOUR KIDS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE FAMILY DOG
1.THEY DEVELOP MORE EMPATHY: Studies report that children who live in homes in which a pet is considered a member of the family are more empathetic than children in homes without pets.
2.THE LEARN TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS: By being taught to take care of an animal, children develop better nurturing skills, which leads ultimately to better parenting skills. Psychologically, when a child nurtures, his/her needs to be nurtured are also being fulfilled.
3.HEALTH BENEFITS: Children are able to relax when animals are present. Tests have shown that the decrease in a child's heart rate and blood pressure can be dramatic when they're around a pet. This could lead to a longer, healthier life.
4.SOCIAL BENEFITS: Studies have shown that when dogs come into a family, there is more laughter and interaction among family members. The presence of animals encourages inter-family socialization.

WHERE TO ADOPT YOUR ADULT PET?
1. Contact your local shelters to plan a visit. Often, they can help match a pet to you if you're not sure exactly what you want.
2. Go to Petfinder.com to search for shelters in your area or browse their online shelter containing over 130,000 adoptable pets.
3. Purebred rescue groups that specialize in the breed you're looking for can be found by calling the U.S. Humane Society at (202) 452-1100. Ask for the Companion Animals section.

FIVE SHELTER STATS YOU DIDN'T KNOW:
1)25-percent of dogs in shelter's are purebred
2)Only 10- to 20-percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters
3)Roughly 8 to 12 million pets are relinquished to shelters each year
4)There are nearly twice as many more dogs in shelters than cats
5)The top reasons for pet relinquishment are not behavioral or health problems, as many assume, but because guardians had to move or had pet issues with their landlords