Tanya, an 8-year-old pit bull mix was dumped as a puppy at a New York City shelter. She stayed there until earlier this year when Elli Frank, founder of Mr. Bones and Co., in New York City, got her out and tried to find her a home. Frank wonít acquire other dogs until Tanya has a home.Courtesy of Elli Frank/The Associated Press
When homeless puppies from the South arrived at the Animal Rescue League of Boston's Brewster branch last month, 15 of the 19 were adopted that day.
“We called 27 people through our matchings (screening applications) and got all of them adopted within 48 hours,” says Dawn Lee-Laub, supervisor and lead behaviorist with the Brewster shelter.
LEARN MORE
Here are some local and national sources for dog adoption, including older dogs:
n Animal Rescue League of Boston, Brewster branch 3981 Main St. (Route 6A), East Brewster, 508-255-1030, www.arlboston.org/brewster-shelter
n MSPCA Cape Cod Animal Care and Adoption Center, 1577 Falmouth Road, Centerville, 508-775-0940, www.mspca.org/adoption/
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susiesseniordogs
Ah, the appeal of youth.
But pups with a little gray in the muzzle are also finding loving homes, thanks to the efforts of rescuers who are persistent in extolling the virtues of adopting an older dog.
“Definitely, the mindset has changed,” Lee-Laub says. “A lot of people are picking up on that, that there's something special in adopting an adult dog.”
Two factors contributing to success in placing older dogs are that groups are using extensive screening applications to find out what people need in a pet and shelters are offering an open-door policy so adopters can return an animal that doesn't work out.
Lee-Laub says the Brewster facility works with the MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in Centerville, sharing information about animals that are available and applications for pets.
Efforts to place older dogs have, in some cases, gone viral. Erin O'Sullivan of Los Angeles has a popular Facebook page, Susie's Senior Dogs, that tells stories about pooches past their prime that need loving homes and taps into the wellspring of animal lovers seeking calmer, well-trained dogs or those wanting to care for pets in their twilight years.
“I think more than food or water, companionship is lifeblood to a dog,” O'Sullivan tells The Associated Press. She is convinced that when an older dog is adopted, he or she will live longer because of an owner's love.
Many shelters and rescues online and off focus on senior dog adoptions that are growing in popularity. But O'Sullivan's page, Susie's Senior Dogs, has gotten more attention than most thanks to a big boost from her boyfriend, an Internet star who knows how to build buzz online – and owns a dog named Susie.
Brandon Stanton of Brooklyn is the author of a book and much-read blog called “Humans of New York,” which claims more than 4 million followers on social media and chronicles the lives of New Yorkers, enrapturing overtaxed Web surfers with heartfelt photos and snippets of text.
Three years ago, Stanton adopted an 11-year-old Chihuahua named Susie.
“She is the greatest dog in New York ... I didn't realize what it meant to have an animal attach itself to you so her only concern in life is being close to you,” he says.
O'Sullivan had set up a Facebook page for Susie, which had about 10,000 “likes” the morning she changed its purpose to finding other old dogs new homes. Stanton pitched the page on his blog, and by nightfall the page had 10 times as many followers. That number has since grown to more than 150,000, and she has helped nearly 200 dogs since January.
That includes a 12-year-old pooch Britany Spangler of Grand Rapids, Mich., found on the page.
“I never intended on getting a dog until I saw our Molly and I knew we had to have her,” she says.
The Lhasa Apso was missing a whole side of teeth, was infested with worms and fleas, had an allergy that made her hair fall out and suffered kidney problems. Despite the health issues, the dog gets along beautifully with Spangler's three children, who are all under 3 years old, she says.
“It was like they had been together forever,” she says. “She came potty-trained and full of love. If she is with us for six months, she blesses us for six months. If she is with us for five years, she enriches our lives for five years. She's the dog I never knew I needed.”
At the Brewster facility on Cape Cod, Lee-Laub says, workers spend a lot of time getting to know a person through the “matching” interview.
“People go about choosing a dog by looks, and really, they should be looking at their house and scheduling and what time they want to put into that animal,” she says. “If people did that, I think it would reduce the number of animals we have (at the shelter) by half.”
Having a puppy is like bringing home a baby: it requires potty training, puppy-proofing such as taping electrical cords and covering outlets, constant limits to teach good behavior, emotional support and, Lee-Laub says, gradually introducing the dog to at least 200 people in different settings.
In contrast, an older dog has probably seen a mail carrier.
Part of the job at the Animal Rescue League, Lee-Laub says, is dressing up in hats, trench coats, uniforms and other gear to see if a dog has any bad reactions.
“A lot of these behaviors are fear-based,” she says. “It's not necessarily that a dog's been abused. It may be that they've never been exposed to certain things.”
In terms of exercise needs, breed is as important as age. Lee-Laub says potential owners need to be realistic about their own activity levels: An active dog like a terrier or Labrador, may need three mile-long walks daily while a pug may get by with shorter outings.
“I do worry when families come in and they have ballet and baseball and karate and music. It's all about being realistic about your time commitment. There's a lot that goes into having a pet.”
Whether choosing a puppy or an adult dog, rescuers encourage obedience training classes.
“You get more than sitting and heeling and those traditional behaviors,” Lee-Laub says. “You get to know your dog and your dog learns to trust you.”
Welcoming a dog
Tips from the MSPCA’s website and from Dawn Lee-Laub, supervisor of the Brewster branch of the Animal Rescue League of Boston:
n Give the dog time to adjust to you and the house before hosting a cookout with lots of new people and food.
n Give the dog a small space to start in.
n Provide a comfortable bed and a few safe toys (something twice the length of dog’s snout without decorations that are choking hazards)
n Especially for puppies, tape electrical cords and secure cleaning supplies
n Use a crate as a safe, comfortable den for the dog, not a place of punishment
n Use obedience training to help forge a relationship with a new dog of any age
n Drive a block away and return quietly on foot to see if the new dog is barking, crying or damaging the house
n When you get home after work, take the dog for a walk first thing so he has something to look forward to
n Give the dog time to adjust to you and the house before hosting a cookout with lots of new people and food.
n Give the dog a small space to start in.
n Provide a comfortable bed and a few safe toys (something twice the length of dog’s snout without decorations that are choking hazards)
n Especially for puppies, tape electrical cords and secure cleaning supplies
n Use a crate as a safe, comfortable den for the dog, not a place of punishment
n Use obedience training to help forge a relationship with a new dog of any age
n Drive a block away and return quietly on foot to see if the new dog is barking, crying or damaging the house
n When you get home after work, take the dog for a walk first thing so he has something to look forward to
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