Here is a topic for discussion that was inspired by real-life events.
Two couples are both interested in a big, active dog at the shelter.
One couple is older. They own their home. Property is at least several acres, but unfenced. Husband is retired and home most days, puttering in garden and with hobbies. Wife works 30 or so hours a week. They formerly owned another big, active dog, who recently died of old age. They have a 2-year-old small dog who misses having canine company. They have a trainer who they have worked with previously and plan to do so again.
Second candidate couple is young, early 20s. They are renters. They also live on several acres, but their home property is fenced. They have another big, young, active dog, a female. They both work.
My bias in placing the dog was toward the older couple. While it’s true that they lacked a fenced yard for the dog, the fact that they own their home reassures me that they won’t be at the mercy of future landlords if they have to move for whatever reason. They also have the financial wherewithal to provide the dog with whatever medical or behavioral interventions he is likely to need. A week in training? Knee or hip surgery? Wouldn’t be a problem for these people.
Staff at the shelter was biased in favor of the young couple. The fact that their property was fenced, their youth, and that they were already dealing with a big, active dog made them seem more equipped to deal with the dog’s perceived need for activity.
I’m just curious: Where would most people, or most shelter staffers, end up placing a dog like this?
I would do an athome inspection. I would want to see the physical condition of the older couple. I don’t like an unfenced yard for any dog. I don’t think it’s far to say yea or nay because of a person’s age, but I can tell you, as an elder citizen with 4 dogs (it didn’t start out that way, shit happens and I now have 4 dogs). I don’t think looking at a person’s age says a lot. Anyone for a variety of reasons can have a heart attack, come down with cancer or any other number of things. Again, an at home inspection would tell anyone a lot.
More importantly, how will the dog already in the home react to the new dog? And what kind of relationship will be formed by the new canine companions? I had a wonderful Lab/Chow mix, Ursula. I can honestly say she was the easiest dog I’ve ever had, both in temperament and training. However, I fostered a male Corgi mix, Curly, and there was something about his personality and those 2 were constantly getting into trouble, doing things Ursula would never do herself (or with any foster or permanent resident dogs after Curly). Or maybe, like my current situation between one of my dogs and a foster, where there is an obvious rub so I have to be super cautious of their interactions.
Dog relationships aside, though, I hope the shelter gives the older couple proper consideration. They have experience with a larger, more active dog, they have the resources to care for the dog, and at least one of them is retired and able to give the dog interaction throughout the day. “Retired” does not mean “incapable.” I do feel as though shelters and rescues may have a bias against older people, however, we “old folks” have a great deal of wisdom, insight and often resources that make us exceptional homes.
The older couple. I’m biased, because I have just spent a year trying to adopt a small dog. I’m older, but I’m stable. I live in a retirement home that welcomes dogs, and probably will live here for the rest of my life. But with most rescues, being older is strike 1 and not having a fenced yard is strike 2. I’m not considered, even for the breeds that are known as perfect apartment dogs. If the rescue even bothers to reply to my application, it is curt if not rude. I finally adopted through a small rescue run by a person who considers each case separately, not as a list of boxes to be checked. The dog loves it here and is adored by the other residents. The adoption system needs a total overhaul!
I tend too to vote for the older couple merely because of they can offer the security and stability because they own a home. As a property manager, I’ve seen enough cases of younger people having to move to another rental that doesn’t allow dogs. Or perhaps allow dogs up to a certain size. I don’t think age is the factor, but instead security of knowing that dog will not be displaced or rehomed later because of the issues with renting. Statistics show that people tend to move every 5 years and while I hate to throw this young couple into a statistical category, it is something that should be considered.