Humane Society volunteer Doreen German with a 3-year old Lhasa apso.
By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin

All who adopt a dog or puppy will receive a free Crazy Shirts T-Shirt, but those who adopt an adult dog will also receive free dog food from Nutro Pet Foods, a Pet's Discount Warehouse coupon, a free microchip I.D. and leash from the society, a free two-hour dog behavior class from animal behaviorist Wendy Mah and free portrait of your new pet by photographer Stan Wright.

The dogs offered are not old at all, Holt said. Many are just a year old.

"People don't realize the advantages of an adult dog, their thoughts naturally go to puppies, which are cute and round for about three to five months, before you get 15 to 20 years of what it is."

What it is one can't tell with a puppy.

"One of the benefits of choosing an older dog is that you know its personality and size," Holt said. "They are often already housebroken and have had some training. And people who do adopt adult dogs tell me it's the most special pet they ever had.

"They say it's almost as if the pet realizes it's getting a second chance."

Most of the adult dogs are turned in by owners who are unable to find homes for them when they move. "Maybe they've got a new girlfriend or boyfriend who's allergic to the pet, or they're moving into a place that doesn't allow pets."

Dogs will adjust to new owners, Holt said, "because of the type of animals they are - they live in packs or family units - they are looking for someone to be a leader, and in an animal-human relationship, the human is the leader and dogs are very eager to please."

All the dogs go through health and behavioral screening before they are put up for adoption. For more information, call 946-2187.