Years ago people had hoards of kids. OK, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but more than 2.5. When the economy booms, babies boom as well and in this economic slump and sophisticated world people are waiting longer to have kids and having fewer kids. Even George Clooney's girlfriend said she is content with her dogs.


Pups > Kids?

Organizations are popping up to meet the need that this trend fuels. There are plenty of adoption centers for pets and store windows advertising wide-eyed pups that leave customers asking "how much is that doggy in the window?" But some companies are pushing the adoption of older dogs because as many dog-owners know, the time it takes to raise and train a puppy is just short of what it could take to raise a child. Well, kids may take a little bit more effort than that, but you get the point.

Tate Dugan, spokeswoman for FlexPet Shelter Program, an organization that assists in the adoption of older dogs, is one organization catering to the trend. The organization's parent company, Flexcin International, took a nationwide online survey of 1,250 pet owners between the ages of 21 and 30 and 61 percent said they would rather adopt an older dog over a puppy because of the time commitment. More than half (54 percent) also said they would choose a dog over a child because they aren't sure if they could handle caring for a child.


So if you don't feel like you are ready to change diapers and teach someone how to walk, fear not, you can adopt an older dog and have a companion without all of the responsibility.