Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week

Special attention for special adoptable pets

Sept. 19 - 25

Big black dogs. FIV+ cats. Senior pets. Special-needs animals.
Many factors can make a pet seem "less adoptable." To promote these
unusual (or, in some cases, too common) animals, Petfinder has designated September 19 - 25 as "Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week."

We asked Petfinder-member shelters and rescue groups to nominate a very special pet in their care who is waiting for a home. Check them out in our gallery, then use our pet-search tool to find a special pet for adoption near you.

Survey Results: Which Pets are Hardest to Place?

Did you know that 95% of our shelter and rescue group members currently have adoptable pets for whom they are having extreme difficulty finding a home?

In fact, in a recent survey, 33% of our adoption groups said they've had pets who were posted on Petfinder for 1-2 years without being adopted, and 27% have had pets who've waited more than two years for a forever home.

Which pets do our shelter and rescue group members have the hardest time finding homes for? Here's what they said:

"Pit Bulls are the No. 1 dog put down in our local shelters. There are too many of them, and there is never enough time to get them all adopted."

"There's also a 'big black cat syndrome'! Hard to believe, but many people are still biased against black cats, especially if they're big."

"Once a dog is past 1-2 years old, people flat-out expect it to be housetrained. They consider the dog too old to be trained if they're not housetrained by 2."

Help Promote Less-Adoptable Pets Online!

To help less adoptable pets find homes, add a customized widget to your Web site by including the HTML where you would like it to appear.

Promote Adopt-A-Less-
Adoptable-Pet Week

<img src="http://petfinder.com/images/admin/lessadoptable/ less-adoptable-widget-10c.gif" alt="Pet Adoption" />

Promote Senior Pets

<SPAN ID='ektct5082' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' type=@zzquote;text/javascript@zzquote; language=@zzquote;javascript@zzquote; src=@zzquote;http://www.petfinder.com/common/javascript/widgets/quick.js@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- //--> </SPAN> <SPAN ID='ektct5084' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' language=@zzquote;javascript@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- quickSearchSenior(); //--> </SPAN>

Promote Special-
Needs Pets

<SPAN ID='ektct5092' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' type=@zzquote;text/javascript@zzquote; language=@zzquote;javascript@zzquote; src=@zzquote;http://www.petfinder.com/common/javascript/widgets/quick.js@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- //--> </SPAN> <SPAN ID='ektct5094' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' language=@zzquote;javascript@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- quickSearchSpecial(); //--> </SPAN>

Promote Pit Bulls

<SPAN ID='ektct5102' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' type=@zzquote;text/javascript@zzquote; src=@zzquote;http://www.petfinder.com/common/javascript/widgets/quick.js@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- //--> </SPAN> <SPAN ID='ektct5104' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' type=@zzquote;text/javascript@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- pfPitBullWidget1(); //--> </SPAN>

<SPAN ID='ektct5110' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' type=@zzquote;text/javascript@zzquote; src=@zzquote;http://www.petfinder.com/common/javascript/widgets/quick.js@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- //--> </SPAN> <SPAN ID='ektct5112' class='Safe Tag' unselectable='on' contenteditable='false' ctagnomen='script' ctagattrs=' type=@zzquote;text/javascript@zzquote;' ctagtype='1'> <!-- pfPitBullWidget2(); //--> </SPAN>

Why 'Less Adoptable' Pets Rule

Here are just a few reasons we love "special" pets:

• Older pets are mellower - you don't have to worry about your lamp getting knocked over!
• Physically challenged pets are often unaffected by their handicap - but you still look like a hero!
• With "bad reputation" breeds, you get the chance to prove people wrong with your great dog!
• Dark-furred pets make it easy to accessorize - black goes with everything!
• Pets with behavioral issues allow you to form a tight bond as you overcome obstacles together!
• Big dogs are easier to find when it's time to go to the vet!

Less Adoptable - But Adopted!

Here are some of our favorite Happy Tails featuring less-adoptable pets.

Lily

"Having a dog that is blind really isn't much more difficult than a sighted dog. Being blind is just another thing that makes Lily who she is. ..." read more

Bullet

"Bullet is a special needs kitty that tugged at my heart. She has a bullet still in her spine and had a back leg amputated because of this cruel wound. ..." read more

To read more, visit our Happy Tails database.

Don't Forget About Deaf Dog Awareness Week!

Adopting a Deaf Dog
Trevor adopted Keller in 2007. Read his blog post about adopting this deaf and blind Great Dane puppy.

Deaf Dog Training Tips
Thinking of adopting a deaf dog? Great! Check out our video: Training a Deaf Dog.