Senior Dogs
Why adopt a senior pet? TONS of reasons! Here are 10, right now!
Grey muzzles are always distinguished
Senior pets are usually past the “get into everything I shouldn’t” phase
They are experienced in the fine art of snuggling
They have a lifetime worth of experiences to whis-purr in your ear (see what we did there?)
Senior animals usually have decreased activity needs, so while they would love to join you on a walk they are also happy to curl up at your feet when you arrive back home
Every animal deserves a safe and loving retirement home
Senior animals appreciate a second chance and will never let you forget it
They have a lot to teach us about growing old with grace
They are quick to figure things out – all that life experience teaches an old dog a thing or two!
They have great house manners. Many senior animals have spent plenty of years learning how to live politely in a house, and they would love to show off their skills!
Are senior animals hard to adopt out? Senior animals are harder to adopt out than puppies, for sure. That being said, at A Dogs New Life we have amazing adopters who open their home to senior pets! For senior animals that stay a little longer at the shelter our incredible volunteers and adoptions staff try to spend some extra time each day giving our older critters some extra love and attention.
Won’t a senior pet pass away after just a few years? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Many senior pets adopted from spent many happy years with their adoptive families while time may be shorter for others. The fear of a limited life is probably one of the #1 reasons why some adopters are shy to adopt a senior animal, and it’s understandable. It is always sad when a pet passes away, but a piece of advice from a vet puts it into perspective.
“No matter how long you have with your pet, you’ll always wish it was longer. It will never be enough time, whether you have two years or twenty years. So focus on quality, not quantity.”
Giving a senior pet a safe and loving home in their golden years can be a very rewarding experience. If you are thinking of adopting a senior animal, but you have concerns, please talk to one of our adoption coordinators at the shelter. They can talk to you about the specific animal you are considering or provide more general information, depending on what you need.
Do senior animals need lots of vet care? As animals age their care requirements do tend to go up, so it is important to have realistic expectations. Many vets recommend that senior animals have two regular check-ups per year for health monitoring, compared to an annual appointment for younger animals. Some animals may also require additional dental care or medical care as they age, but this is not true for all pets. At A Dogs New Life our adoption coordinator will give you a full description of the pet’s vet records before you complete the adoption, including any need for ongoing care noted by our vets. If a pet does have a medical condition you may wish to phone your regular vet to discuss the implications of the condition before you commit to the adoption. In special cases we may even have a mandatory pre-adoption hold with a special request to research certain care needs prior to making the adoption decision.
Please complete an adoption application if any of our seniors catch your eye.
