[0:02] We do know that sometimes in the winter [0:03] in general, adoptions do slow, [0:05] especially for our larger dogs. I think [0:07] it's just a lot of the colds and the [0:09] snow isn't the time that people [0:11] necessarily want to bring home a large [0:13] dog. That can definitely sometimes be a [0:14] barrier, but also we are motans, right? [0:17] We're very hearty and our pets are [0:19] hearty, too. And so this is a really [0:21] good time actually to bring home a pet [0:24] because around the holidays folks are [0:26] going to be home a lot more and that's a [0:27] really good time to get them acclimated [0:29] to your home, to your family, to their [0:31] new environment. So it could actually be [0:33] kind of a great time to adopt. So there [0:35] are a lot of advantages to adopting an [0:38] older dog over a puppy. Adult dogs make [0:40] really good pets because we know a lot [0:42] more about adult dogs often. So first of [0:44] all, they're full grown, so we know how [0:46] big they're going to be because they're [0:47] already that size. I get asked that [0:49] question all the time. How big is this [0:50] puppy going to be? And we don't really [0:52] know a lot of times. Um, but with our [0:54] adult dogs, they're as big as they're [0:55] going to get. Sometimes they come to us [0:57] and they already know a few things. [0:59] They're trained on how to sit, stay, [1:01] they've already been in a home [1:02] environment, so they kind of know what [1:04] that looks like and what that feels [1:05] like. Um, oftent times our adult dogs [1:08] too, we we know their personality a [1:09] little bit more. And sometimes adult [1:11] dogs are actually easier to be trained [1:13] because they have a longer attention [1:15] span than a puppy is going to have. [1:17] First, we're going to meet Blue. So, he [1:18] is eight years old. He has been with us [1:20] one of the longest stays for our dogs. [1:23] He came to us as an owner surrender. His [1:25] um he had an injury to his tail and his [1:27] owner couldn't kind of afford that vet [1:29] work. So, he came to us. We fixed up his [1:31] tail and he's ready to go. He loves to [1:33] run around. He knows how to sit. He [1:35] knows how to stay. He can lay down. Uh [1:37] Blue also loves hard treats. He would [1:40] love a soft treat, but he's going to rip [1:42] it up and destroy it and probably [1:43] swallow it, which isn't good. So, we [1:45] recommend some of the the harder toys [1:47] for Blue, but he is just a a great [1:50] gentle giant. He's about 8 years old, a [1:52] senior dog. So, he does have some senior [1:54] medical concerns like any dog would at [1:56] his age, but he's definitely looking for [1:59] a second chance and would make a lovely [2:01] dog for a lot of families. And then the [2:04] next dog we're going to meet is Ruby. [2:05] She's also a senior. A little less [2:07] energy, a little bit more calm, a little [2:09] shy of a dog. Blue is kind of in your [2:11] face, a lot of energy. And Ruby's going [2:13] to be on the shire side. She has been [2:15] with us the longest of all of the dogs [2:17] across the organization. And so we'd [2:19] really love to get her a home for the [2:21] holidays. We know that pets are amazing [2:24] for our mental health, right? We know [2:26] that they do wonders for everybody in [2:28] the home. They get us outside. They give [2:30] us plenty of exercise. They give us a [2:32] reason to wake up in the morning. And [2:34] dogs in particular are just full of love [2:36] and affection. They really just want to [2:38] be with people. No matter your [2:39] circumstances, that dog is going to love [2:41] you unconditionally. And so they really [2:44] bond with us as humans. They really [2:46] become not only our best friends, but a [2:48] member of our family. They can go online [2:50] at animalhumaneocciety.org [2:52] and look up their profile and their [2:53] photos right now. Or they can always [2:55] stop into our Rapids location and [2:56] visit them during our adoption hours. [2:58] >> You go have a wonderful life. [3:01] >> Thank you guys. Have a great weekend. [3:03] >> Thank you.