November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month

If you are thinking of adopting a dog or cat, why not consider a senior pet?

A puppy or kitten can require constant attention. A puppy can hold his bladder just one hour for every month they've been alive. That means a 3-month-old puppy will need to empty his bladder every three hours! And yes, that does include the middle of the night! An adult dog's bladder is already fully developed. Shelter dogs are most often already house-trained and even if they have an “accident” in their new home, they usually are quick to remember that potty is outside. You also have the advantage of knowing that your dog is physically able to "hold it" for several hours at a stretch.

An adult pet’s personality is already developed, and you'll be able to spot the characteristics you're looking for. Shelters and rescue groups are able to assess the personality of each pet for adoption, and carefully match you up with the right dog or cat for your lifestyle.

Ask anybody who has adopted an adult dog or cat, and will tell you that they are the most grateful and loving pets.  When you open your heart and your home to an older dog or cat that needs help, they really do show their appreciation for the rest of their life! These pets, through no fault of their own, have been uprooted from their homes. Some have been dumped at a shelter because their owners have decided they want a younger pet, or have had difficult beginnings in life and are likely to bond completely and deeply with their new humans Pets who find themselves in the shelter or at a rescue group because of a death or other tragedy in their former human family usually go through a mourning period. Once they are adopted, however, they usually want nothing more than to please their new human! No matter what circumstances brought them to the shelter or rescue group, most older pets for adoption are exceptionally affectionate and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.

When you adopt a senior dog or cat, you are doing the ultimate good deed. Let's face it: a lot of people think they want a puppy or kitten, but not everyone is lining up to adopt the great seniors! Did you know that every year, approximately 4 million adoptable animals are killed? You can be sure there are a LOT of dogs and cats for adoption out there. With such a huge overpopulation problem, buying a pet from a breeder or pet store contributes to this tragedy. More often than not, a puppy at a pet store came from a “puppy mill”, a horrible place where dogs are kept in cages with very little human contact, and are forced to have litter after litter until they are of no use anymore.  Many of these momma dogs are killed once their breeding time has run out.  Rescue groups that specialize in Senior Pet adoption work very, very hard to help adult dogs and cats find good homes. Rescues are almost always made up of a group of volunteers. They often keep their pets for adoption in their own homes while they assess their health and personalities. If a pet needs basic training, often the rescuer will provide it. If a pet needs medical treatment, many dedicated dog and cat rescuers pay for it out of their own pocket. These people are incredibly passionate about rescue, and they work tirelessly to make sure every pet finds a home. Nothing is as rewarding to these heroes as a successful adoption!

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month.  If you have decided that it’s time for you to become a pet parent, please consider adopting one of the many senior dogs and cats that are available.  Senior pets deserve all the love and attention you can give them.

  This is Moose, my (almost) 10 year old dachshund.  I adopted him in January, 2012 after fostering him for a short time.  He had gone from a loving home with 3 dachshund sisters, to a shelter where he and his sisters were split up, to a foster home, then another foster home.  When I took him in and saw how sweet he was and that he fit right in with the rest of my crazy “zoo”, I decided he had been bounced around enough and made him part of our family.  He only has 8 teeth but that doesn’t slow him down at all.  He’s a super little dog.