It’s Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week

Promote Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet-Week with Petfinder this September 19-25 in an effort to shine the spotlight on harder to place pets.

A recent survey from Petfinder.com of shelters and rescue groups found that 95% of their shelter and rescue group members currently have adoptable pets for whom they are having extremely hard time finding homes. Another 33% of their adoption groups have 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.

Who are these animals? Mostly senior animals, followed by pets with medical issues, victims of breed discrimination, shy animals and the ones who need to be the only pet in the family. Sometimes they’re just the wrong color, or not the breed someone had in mind.

“It breaks my heart to think that some pets are homeless for years when they are just as wonderful as the younger, fluffier puppy next to them. These overlooked pets often make great additions to a family — but many people don’t even realize they are discriminating when they begin looking to adopt,” said Petfinder co-founder Betsy Banks Saul.

“The goal of this initiative is to bring the issue to the forefront and help find forever homes for these special animals.”

Check out Petfinder’s gallery of special pets in need of forever homes. “Gussie“, above, has been at the Southside SPCA for quite a few years and is ready to spend the rest of her life with a family of her own. She’s cute as a button, no?

Southside SPCA

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Joe R.

12:52PM PST on Feb 12, 2012

Thanks.

send a green star

Charles W.

8:24PM PST on Feb 8, 2011

I know a lady who is allergic to cats. She adopts the scardy ones that won't come near her, rub her or get in her lap. She loves having them around to watch them play.

SARRE H.

1:18AM PDT on Oct 29, 2010

I adopted one old woman 12-year-old bitch with the stomach hanging a few years ago. She was going to be euthanized because her mistress(teacher) left for old people's home and nobody adopted him(it). She(it) gave me a lot of tenderness during the some years which remained in him(her) to live, thus these animals are lucky to be adopted. Furthermore sometimes they correspond more to the fact that we look for: already educated, the quiet or other.

Siv B.

6:51PM PDT on Oct 4, 2010

Wish I could adopt a new dog now but it is too early from the day our lovely Zacko have to leave this world (July 2010) and also I plan to move so lets see later. :)))

Nicole C.

3:16PM PDT on Sep 30, 2010

My husband and I adopted a "less adoptable" doggy. She's around ten years old, and she's a basset mutt. Our old lady has been with us for almost a year now, and she's the best dog I could ask for :) She's mellow (unless she sees a squirrel) and she's so smart. Claudia is really loving, too. I met her volunteering, and when I heard she was "on borrowed time", I wanted to take her home. I wish I could take all of them home! Older dogs are so much easier to work with than hyper puppies (the same goes for adult cats vs. kittens). Our kitty was a stray adult cat, also very well behaved. Adults and seniors definitely deserve a second chance.

Maria S.

11:58AM PDT on Sep 30, 2010

I have 8 wonderful dogs & 3 beautiful cats!!! All of them where rescued from the streets & now living an amazing life here in my house... I love them so much, I couldn't even imagine a life without them!!! PLEASE ADOPT A PET FROM THE SHELTER, THEY NEED U!!! THANX... :)

Virginia R.

7:37AM PDT on Sep 30, 2010

we often adopted older/unwanted pets as i was growing up, and my "old man" rabbit, His Royal Cuteness Holland Fuzzipants (Holland) was born at the shelter and was 1.5 when we adopted him. He's now 5 and going strong and my very special little man:) Puppies and kittens and little ones are cute and wonderful, but don't forget there's still a lot of love left in the otehr ones too!:D

Rita S.

4:28AM PDT on Sep 29, 2010

I would encourage people to adopt older pets. My Max is 6 years old and 'the love of my life'. Older pets are usually calmer and make their way into your hearts just as fast as a kitten or puppy. We need to ask people to consider older pets, because they need us as much as we need them. Have you hugged your pet today?

Shannon H.

2:55AM PDT on Sep 29, 2010

Oh I have such a soft spot for the less adoptable ones. When I worked in a shelter, there was Buddy, a one eyed lab, and Tripod, a three legged mutt. I would have loved to take them home but couldn't with all the stairs in my house.
Same with the old dogs...I felt the worst for them. No dog should end it's days in a shelter

Sacha Z.

4:52AM PDT on Sep 28, 2010

Great initiative.