Celebrate Petfinder’s “Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week”: September 17-23

Big black dogs, FIV+ cats, senior pets and special needs animals: Many factors can make a pet seem "less adoptable." To promote these special animals, Petfinder.com has designated September 17-23 as “Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week”.

“Every day, families walk into shelters or visit Petfinder.com and, perhaps unconsciously, bypass some adoptable pets simply because of the way they look, their age, or because they have a condition such as blindness or deafness,” said Betsy Banks Saul, the co-founder of Petfinder.com.

Petfinder.com will be featuring a gallery of “less adoptable” pets on its website during the week-long event to highlight just how many pets need to be given a chance. This year, Petfinder has a record number of “less adoptables” in their gallery … nearly 1,000 shelter-nominated pets!

Petfinder also did a survey and found that 99% of responding shelters and rescue groups currently have adoptable pets that are having a harder time getting adopted. In fact, according to the survey, these “less-adoptable” pets are likely to spend nearly four times longer than the average pet waiting for a home – sometimes as long as two years!

So which pets do shelters and rescue groups have the hardest time finding homes for?

• Senior pets 
• Pets with behavioral needs 
• Victims of breed prejudice 
• Fearful or shy pets 
• Pets with medical needs 
• Pets that need to be only pets 

But the reality is that older pets are often more mellow. Pets with physical disabilities are often unaffected by their handicap. “Bad breed” dogs are often sweet and friendly. And dark-furred animals go with everything!

Petfinder shelters and rescue groups will be hosting events throughout the week to encourage potential adopters to consider pets they might not have previously. In addition, Petfinder.com will be promoting “less adoptable” pets on its website and through its social media outlets.

For more information, visit the “Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week” home page on Petfinder.com.