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THE NEW BARKER  43
A common assumption about dogs in 
shelters or available through a rescue 
group is that they are in that situation 
because of something they (the dog) have 
done. Obviously, that is not true. If we 
want to advocate for dog adoption, we 
need to be cognizant of how we speak 
about our rescue dogs so that we do not 
inadvertently fuel that bias. 
      All dogs have stories, whether they 
come from shelters or breeders. But we 
do not typically introduce dogs from 
other sources by listing their worst expe-
riences. We talk about their personality or 
share a cute story about them. 
      When rescue dogs are consistently 
introduced through trauma-based lan-
guage or stories, the message listeners 
absorb is subtle but powerful: that adopt-
ing a rescue dog means taking on prob-
lems. For potential adopters — especially 
first-time adopters — that implication 
can be enough to push them toward pur-
chasing a puppy from a pet store which is, 
of course, the last place a person should 
acquire a canine companion. 
      Another common narrative places 
the human as the hero of the story with 
phrases like:  
      “He’d be dead if we hadn’t 
      taken him.” 
      “No one else wanted her.” 
      “We saved him.” 
      People who adopt are heroes in the 
eyes of the dogs they adopt. However, we 
must consider how these statements land 
with the listener. The human becomes the 
hero; conversely the dog is positioned as 
“damaged goods.” And most people don’t 
want damaged goods. 
      People who are thinking about 
bringing a dog into their life are looking 
forward to having a best friend. They are 
thinking about all the fun they will have 
with their new best friend and the joy 
that dog ownership will bring into their 
life. To these people, adoption begins to 
sound like a sacrifice rather than what it 
truly is: a deeply rewarding choice. 
      Common phrases about rescue 
dogs—like “You don’t know the dog’s 
history” or “You never know what you’re 
getting”—ignore how dog adoption 
actually works. Reputable animal shelters 
and rescue organizations conduct tem-
perament assessments, rely on volunteer 
observations, and gather behavioral infor-
mation precisely so adopters can make 
informed choices. Most rescue dogs have 
lived in homes before and have already  
demonstrated how they behave in real-
life settings. 
      Meanwhile, puppies from any source 
— particularly pet stores — come with 
less detailed histories. Personality, energy 
level, and behavioral tendencies emerge 
over time. Ultimately, every dog requires 
training, structure, and adjustment – 
regardless of how the dog was acquired. 
      This is not about misrepresenting the 
truth, nor is it about lying. It is about 
being conscientious of how we present 
rescue dogs and the act of dog adoption 
to others. It is the difference between say-
ing “she needed time to settle in” versus 
“she was a mess when we got her.” Both 
describe the same experience, yet one 
centers on adjustment — something all 
dogs experience — while the other 
implies dysfunction. It also means nor-
malizing the fact that all dogs require 
training, patience, and time to adjust — 
not just rescues. 
      It was my own “Aha!” moment that 
got me thinking about this issue. Mozart 
was a Boston Terrier who came to me 
through a dog rescue that I volunteered 
with in the past. For various reasons – he 
was a senior dog with health and behav-
ioral challenges – it was decided that he 
would live his remaining years with me. 
In rescue lingo, this is often called a “for-
ever foster” or a “hospice foster.” 
      Friends and co-workers would ask 
“How’s Mozart?” and I would talk about 
our latest vet visit or all the daily medica-
tions I had to administer. Eventually it 
occurred to me that my life with Mozart 
must have sounded bleak and depressing 
to others. But I loved my time with him! 
Mozart was a fantastic dog with bound-
less energy who loved to play, enjoyed 
going on walks, and never met a cat he 
did not like, a very endearing personality 
trait. I did some introspection and real-
ized that venting about the vet visits and 
medications was a way for me to relieve 
stress. But I also realized that it was not 
the way I wanted to represent Mozart to 
others and it definitely was not the way I 
wanted to represent rescue dogs (or fos-
tering!) to people. 
      Several months after Mozart passed 
away, I adopted a mixed-breed dog 
named Leo. Whenever I talk about Leo to 
others, I make sure to focus on the posi-
tive. I share a funny story (he provides me 
with many), talk about how happy I am 
to have adopted him, or show them the 
last photo I took of him on my phone. As 
rescue dog owners, we should remember 
that we are informal ambassadors. Every 
interaction, whether intended or not, 
contributes to how dog adoption is per-
ceived. Let’s talk about our rescue dogs 
with pride and joy, and in doing so, 
inspire others to choose adoption.
Talking About Rescue Dogs: 
Food for Thought 
 
Emphasize: 
• Personality (“He’s goofy and 
loves everyone.”) 
• Strengths (“He’s incredibly 
adaptable and eager to learn.”) 
 
Be mindful of: 
• Defining your dog by their worst 
moments 
• Sharing trauma in casual or 
public settings 
• Using language that implies 
damage or defect 
 
Ask yourself: 
• Does the story I’m telling  help 
someone feel more open to 
adoption — or more hesitant?
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