Those puppies need their series of puppy shots and fecals, then their rabies shot, then a trip to be altered, maybe an emergency trip or two if they've chewed something dangerous. Your donation to the rescue when adopting an older pup should get you a dog with all shots current, already altered, heartworm negative and on preventative at the minimum. What You See Is What You Get. When adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those questions are easily answered. When the puppy isn't teething on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and yourself.
Rescues routinely get calls from panicked parents who are sure their dog is biting the children.
Matchmaker Make Me a Match. Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other until death do them part. Dogs who have been uprooted from their happy homes or have not had the best start in life are more likely to bond very completely and deeply with their new people. Those who have lost their families through death, divorce or lifestyle change go through a terrible mourning process.