How Old To Adopt A Dog

If you’ve ever wanted to add a furry friend to your household, you know how difficult it can be to find a pet that’s the right fit. You want a dog who loves you unconditionally and will stick by your side through thick and thin, but finding just the right companion isn’t always easy. Fortunately, there are plenty of organizations out there that help facilitate adoptions between prospective owners and loving pets in need of new homes—and many of these rescues even require prospective adopters to be at least 18 years old! But what does this mean? And why do some shelters have an age requirement when it comes to adopting dogs? Here’s what we know about this question:

The age an individual can begin to adopt a pet is based on the requirements of the rescue group or shelter you are interested in adopting from.

The age an individual can begin to adopt a pet is based on the requirements of the rescue group or shelter you are interested in adopting from. The average age limit is 18 years old, but certain shelters will have stricter guidelines than others. For example, some states require potential adopters to be at least 21 years old before they can adopt a pet. If you don’t see your state listed below, one of our partners may have more information available for your area!

• Alaska: 19+
• Colorado: 19+
• Delaware: 20+
• Hawaii: 18+ (with parent or guardian)
• Iowa: 18+ (without parent or guardian)

But sometimes, even if you’re old enough to legally adopt, you may be turned away for other reasons.

But sometimes, even if you’re old enough to legally adopt, you may be turned away for other reasons. If you have a history of owning pets and then abandoning them—which is called hoarding—you may not be allowed to adopt another pet. If you’ve been convicted of animal abuse or neglect, the same goes.

If your criminal record shows violence against people or animals, that’s also a no-no. And if there’s any history at all of mental illness in your family that involves harming yourself or others, it could prevent adoption as well.

This list includes some of the most common factors that can determine whether or not you’re eligible to adopt a dog from a shelter or organization.

• Age
• Neighborhood
• Other pets in the home
• Financial situation
• Personality of potential adopter(s) and/or current resident pet(s) (if applicable)
• Criminal history and/or housing history (if applicable) You should also consider what type of dog you’re looking for, as this can be an important factor when adopting from a shelter or rescue organization. Some dogs require extra training, whereas others are better suited for households with children. If you have small kids in your home, it’s important that your new shelter dog is well-socialized with children so that he or she doesn’t react badly to their presence.

Other factors that can be evaluated during a meeting include how often you will be at home and whether your schedule allows you to care for a dog full-time.

Other factors that can be evaluated during a meeting include how often you will be at home and whether your schedule allows you to care for a dog full-time. If you are a student or work long hours, you may not be able to care for a dog. If you are a student, you may not be able to afford to feed a dog. If you work long hours, you may not be able to walk a dog.

If you want to adopt a dog, many shelters will only work with people who are 18 or older.

If you want to adopt a dog, many shelters will only work with people who are 18 or older. Why? Because they do not want to house a dog that might end up being returned after six months of having it in their home because the person wasn’t ready for such a big commitment. And, if you have younger children, there are some things to think about before adopting your first furry friend.

For example, if your kids aren’t old enough yet to take on the responsibility of caring for a puppy at home (especially during school hours), but they’re still too young for an adult-sized dog who won’t understand why his playtime has been cut short every day by homework and dinner time, then maybe it’s time wait until everyone is ready before adopting another pet into the family. On top of that concern over whether or not everyone will be responsible enough with their new furry friend while also taking into account how much time he will require each day (such as exercising him multiple times per week) means that if any one member isn’t willing or able right now then adoption may not be an option just yet…

Conclusion

If you are old enough to adopt a dog and have the time and resources to care for them, you should definitely consider it. The best age to start adopting is 18 because this gives you plenty of time to prepare yourself for what it means to take on this responsibility.