Senior Pets – Why You Should Adopt One

Usually, when people think about adopting a pet from a shelter they think of puppies or kittens. All too often, the sweet older dogs and cats are simply overlooked in favor of the younger animals. November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month which helps put the spotlights on these seemingly forgotten pets. 

However, senior pets can be some of the most wonderful and loving companions. People tend to underestimate the fullness you can get when you open your heart to an older pet. And there are actually a whole of benefits too!

• Senior pets are fully developed

When it comes to senior pets, what you see is what you get. Their coats are already fully developed and they are also fully grown. This means you’ll already know what to expect about food requirements and grooming. Plus, you’ll have a much better idea of their personality, so gauging their temperament will be much easier.

• They aren’t as much work to train

What else is easier is that older pets don’t need as much. Most of the time they are already housebroken or litter trained. Plus they know what it is to “listen” to humans. More than that, they don’t need as much supervision either. Because they are more laid back, they don’t get bored or feel the need to explore as much. Meaning they don’t get into trouble as much as puppies or kittens do.

• They are usually very loving

A lot of times senior pets are rescued from sad or solitary lives. Or sometimes they have been a part of a loving home at one point or another, but for some reason they have been displaced. And now they have been living on the streets and truly appreciate being taken in and cared for. Either way they have lived enough life to know that finding people to love important.

• They need a loving home

Since puppies and kittens are usually the first to find homes in a shelter senior pets need homes more urgently. Shelters can not be their forever home and sadly for them, time is running out faster than if they were babies.

Thinking about adopting a senior pet? Check out this list of shelters in the Snohomish County area. Or contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction. If you skip over older pets when you’re considering adoption, you may be missing out on one of the greatest loves, so give a senior pet a chance! 

Please share this article with anyone who wants to adopt a pet, or would benefit from having a loving senior pup in their home. To adopt a senior dog, contact Old Dog Haven to check out any of their adoptable fosters on their website.