Big black dogs. FIV+ cats. Senior pets. Special-needs pets. To help these and other often-overlooked pets find homes, Petfinder has named August 12 "Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day."
Help us spread the word!
We asked our shelter and rescue group members:
Which pets are the hardest to place?
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!
To help senior and special-needs pets find homes, add a customized search widget to your Web site by including the HTML where you would like it to appear.
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!
Do you have more reasons? Tell us on our blog!
Less Adoptable - But Adopted!
Here are some of our favorite Happy Tails featuring less-adoptable pets.
Cow
"There is a home out there for every dog; sometimes it just takes a while to find it! Meet Cow--our blind, deaf, hypothyroid, and incontinent Dalmatian. ..." read more
Cooper
"I decided to adopt an adult cat that was not likely to get adopted. Most people don't realize FIV+ kitties can live long, healthy lives. ..." read more
To read more, visit our Happy Tails database.
