In honor of Petfinder’s Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week, I’m dedicating this week’s No Frown Friday to the less adoptable pets out there. This week’s motto? Appreciate, don’t discriminate!
- Punny pet name: Mike-howl Ian Black.
- Did you see my guest post on Grouchy Puppy earlier this week? If not, check out 10 great reasons to adopt an older dog.
- Even better, Sharon from Grouchy Puppy did a guest post here as well (check it out if you missed it). Remember: when it comes to senior dogs, appreciate, don’t discriminate! (For a host of senior dog resources, I also recommend that you visit Daley’s Dog Years.)
- Also among the less adoptable? Pop over to Something Wagging to learn about tripod dogs (a.k.a. dogs with three legs). Don’t get too cocky – I have a feeling that many of them could beat me (and probably you) in a race. You can also read about more special
needspets at Bessie Mac, Bringing up Bella, and browndog cbr. - I’ve talked about Black Dog Syndrome before and introduced you to some of the awesome black dogs from my past. Check out this post at the Northern Virginia Dog Blog for more info.
- Do any of your pets (past or present) fit into the less adoptable (a.k.a. “awesome but people are too dumb to see it”) category? Tell me about them! (You can also stroll down memory lane with some other bloggers this week, like Kim from This One Wild Life and Dr. V from Pawcurious.)
- Dawn from Affurmation shares why she prefers adopting those so-called less adoptable pets. It’s a great reason!
- Warning: this story from Amazon Cares about the special bond between a less adoptable pet and his human might bring tears to your eyes. (I promised no frowns, but I said nothing about happy tears.)
- Kim from CindyLu’s Muse reminds us why different is beautiful.
- As Marg’s Pets will tell you, it’s not just dogs that have to deal with this label. Learn the facts about FIV-positive cats at Brian’s Home and check out some black cats at House of Carnivores and The Chronicles of Cardigan.
We end today’s post with a video of one of those less adoptable pets…
Based on how cute this “less adoptable” black dog is, I can only conclude one thing… people are crazy.
Thanks for this post… We all need the reminders.
I've never understood "Black dog syndrome". But, I see it with my Labs. At one point, we had all 3 colors, and if we were in town with them, everyone wanted to pet the yellow. Some wanted to pet the chocolate. And very few wanted to pet the black lab. That told me something.
I'm with you, KB. Black dog syndrome makes absolutely no sense to me.
What a great post. Just look into the eyes of any black dog at the shelter, and tell me they are less desirable. Hogan is a riot! I have a rescued grand dog who made the Chicago news last year because of her pool antics!
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/opinion/robin-robinson-my-chicago-dogs-20100811
All of my pups have been "less adoptable"–judging from the fact that all of them came from death row. That, and the fact that not one of them has been a labra-doodle 🙂
OMD – Hogan is SUCH a Lab. What a goofball.
Thanks for your tremendous efforts for the "Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable" campaign – above and beyond as always. 🙂
What a fabulous post! And I agree, people are crazy. The video is adorable!!
Going to check out all of your links now. 🙂
This is a wonderful post and I swear I read it with a smile on face because it was so upbeat! I have a lot of places to go and visit now!
I love that splish splash pooch!!! There is no such thing as less adoptable!
This is an awesome post. I love the way all the links back you up.
When the time comes to add to our pack I fully intend on adding either a senior or a dog with special needs.
Art and Sew Forth – I loved the clip!
Kirsten – Yay for loving those "less adoptable" pets!
Leslie – He was cracking me up.
Julie & jen – Thank you!
Brian – I agree. Just dumb people who can't see the awesomeness.
jodistone – You rock. 🙂
How this black lab – who is gorgeous and looks like tons of fun – can be deemed "unadoptable" I'll never understand. If a dog like that had been at the shelter when we were looking, we would have come home with him instead of Shiva. Hands down!
Thanks for this great round-up of posts!
Awesome post, AJ. Thanks for including mine in such good company.
Of course, my adopted Newf is laying in the corner of the living room, aloof as always, and wholly disinterested in the kiddie pool concept – whether outside in our yard or on the laptop screen. I tried to show him how this lab does it, but he's not much for lessons. Maybe this makes him defective as a water dog, but he's absolutely perfect as my living teddy bear – so all is good in the world of this adoption. 🙂
Oh yeah! We adopted Lilac after she retired from racing and being a brood mama to two litters of puppies. She was seven and a half when she came to us as a foster. Nobody even asked about adopting her — even when she was the only dog in the group for a few weeks! Finally, we accepted that she had attached herself to us permanently and made her official after months of fostering. I never dreamed that eight years later she'd still be with us. She's lived more than half her life as a pet now, and I imagine the days of racing and farm life are distant memories. I know we won't have her forever, but we've been made infinitely richer for having adopted her.
Terrific post! Frankie was a less adoptable dog too though I didn't know it — in fact, I'd better go blog about him so people will know how my little superstar was considered an undesirable.
Thanks for making me smile. I like the term Frownless Friday! I also appreciate your including the Amazon CARES story of Rusty, the disabled dog and his sight impaired owner that loves him so dearly. Thank you!
Kristine – So true! That cutie pie looks pretty adoptable to me!
Kim – A living teddy bear sounds perfect to me! Snuggling is a very desirable quality. 🙂
houndstooth – Lilac is very lucky to have you! 🙂
Edie – Awesome! I'm glad I could provide some inspiration. Hehe.
Amazon Cares – You're welcome! I loved the story you posted.
"awesome but people are too dumb to see it" – You need to TM that quote on the double. 🙂
Watching dogs frolic in plastic pools makes me swoon. What a most-adoptable less-adoptable. 🙂
And @Kristine – There's a reason that big black guy wasn't in Shiva's shelter! 😉
Wonder if Petfinder would be interested in calling it that instead! LOL
I was at the rescue for SIX MONTHS before mom came to meet me. I was surrounded by puppies and youngsters and boxers with smooshier faces than mine.
…but once she got me in the yard, I ran and ran and ran and gave her kisses and ran and then…she got to see my smiley face and it was a done deal. 😀
Your mom is a very wise lady. 🙂
That surely counts! Thanks for that useful pieces of reminders, that effectively draw some value to me. I'm really learning a lot from you!
Hey, thanks for the shout out! I've been out of town and I'm still catching up on my blog reading … but as Hawk at browndog cbr pointed out, every week should be, as you call it, "Super Awesome Is More Like It" Adoptables week! Really enjoyed your guest post on Grouchy Puppy!
-Chandra at Daley's Dog Years
Thanks so much, Chandra! 🙂
Thanks for the mention! I also don't get black dog syndrome, but then in rabbits you have the pink eye syndrome. People don't want to adopt an albino rabbit because they have pink eyes- http://www.sandiegorabbits.org/adoption/new_zealands.html . Crazy.
I don't get that either… people focus on such irrelevant characteristics!