National Adopt a Senior Pet Month is an entire month dedicated to finding permanent homes for older animals living in shelters and rescues in the United States. Senior pets often end up in shelters through no fault of their own, such as when an elderly owner can no longer care for them or when their family moves or struggles with financial hardship. Many people seeking to adopt a pet favor a younger animal, thinking it will be easier to train and that there will be more years to spend with them. But that’s not always true. Many rescue groups and veterinarians consider a cat or dog to be a senior at just five years of age! But depending on the size and breed of an animal and their level of nutrition and veterinary care, cats and dogs are now living well into their teen years. In fact, I have a rat terrier who turned 18 in March!
Older dogs and cats are also calmer and easier to settle into a new household than rambunctious puppies or kittens. They usually are already trained and housebroken and learn fast if they are not! Senior pets have lots of loyalty and love to give, they are easy to handle, and they don’t require a huge lifestyle change since they are happy to nap and snuggle on your schedule. If you’re planning to adopt a pet, please consider a senior. Since Broadway Barks has already given you the top reasons to adopt a senior pet here and in previous articles on the subject, we would now like to introduce you to some wonderful animals who are currently available for adoption. Please consider giving one of these dogs or cats a home, or help us spread the word to others who may be looking to adopt a new pet.
This sweet and precious lady is Joci. She is a warm and loving senior dog who is seeking a home and family that is every bit as wonderful and affectionate as she is!
All she really needs in life is a safe place to rest her head. She would be best as the only pet in the home, but there is more than enough of her to go around for everyone! In return, you can expect endless love and loyalty from her.
If it sounds like Joci is the idyllic fit for you, then please contact Bideawee and ask about adopting or fostering her today!
Frankie is a sweet, happy-go-lucky 14-year-old dog that came to Bideawee with kidney stones. The stones were treated, and he’s now in great health. He’s on a special prescription diet so he won’t get the stones again, but the food makes him very thirsty, so he drinks a lot of water and must use the bathroom frequently. However, he is already housebroken! He has a jubilant spirit and happily trots outside (he loooooves walks). He gets along with most well-mannered dogs and can probably live in a home with another well-mannered adult dog. He is very loyal to his people and will hop on your lap for head scratches. His ideal family has someone who is home a lot so they can spend time with him and help regulate his bathroom breaks. He is a sweet and loving boy who wants to spend his days cuddling beside you and cherishing your company.
Meet Sadie! Sadie is one smart, well-trained pup! She just passed her C.L.A.S.S. B.A. and M.A. tests! C.L.A.S.S. stands for Canine Life and Social Skills, and by earning her B.A. and her M.A., Sadie has shown that she's mastered things like meet-and-greets, loose-leash walking, stay, settle, leave it, and more. Sadie is around 10 years old, and she's a real brindle beauty! She may have a little grey in her muzzle, but she's got a lot of pep in her step. She's active, playful, and very friendly. Sadie is not a fan of other animals, but she adores people. She's a mature girl who's well-mannered and will make a great companion, adventure buddy, and best friend. If you'd like to spend your days playing fetch or going for long walks and your nights snuggling with a furry best friend, Sadie might just be the girl for you! It's time for our star student to have a loving home of her own. Come meet her!
Sampson is a 12-year-old male pug currently waiting for a home at the Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center.
Sampson may have limited vision and hearing, but he can readily sense the loving care that surrounds him. He is good with children of all ages and is dog and cat friendly. He would be a great pet to have in a small home or apartment.
Pennsylvania-based 1 Love 4 Animals has several seniors waiting for homes. Ladybug the Chihuahua is a little girl with a big heart who survived being in an Amish puppy mill for 10 years.
Ladybug has partial blindness in one eye and has malformed bones in her back legs from her past, but she is sweet and would love a lap to curl up on.
Ellie the Beagle survived post-hurricane Carolina floodwaters and just wants a quiet home to nap in and a family to pet her.
Living at BARC Shelter in Brooklyn are three senior pets that are looking for loving homes. Olga, a 10-year-old female Labrador Retriever mix, was rescued from Texas, were she was found as a stray. Olga is a sweet dog but over-protective when someone comes near her person. She doesn’t like little dogs and cats and will try to hurt them, and she also doesn’t like speeding bicycles. But for the right person, she’ll be a wonderful pet!
Cookie is a 10-year-old female domestic shorthair cat with brown tiger coloring. Cookie ended up at BARC after her owner died. She is currently getting fluids for her kidneys because of insufficiency, which is making it harder for her to find a home. But if you’re willing to put in the little bit of extra effort that Cookie needs, she’ll give you a lot of love in return!
Marlee is a 12-year-old female domestic shorthair cat with tortoiseshell coloring. Marlee was found as a feral stray and brought to BARC by a volunteer.
She likes to hide, so she would be great in a home that will allow her some space and let her come around on her own time.
Senior cats and dogs spend more time in the shelter than younger animals, if they ever make it out at all. The euthanasia rate among senior animals is much higher, which makes National Adopt a Senior Pet Month vitally important. We can prevent these innocent animals from living the rest of their lives in uncomfortable, scary shelters and give them safe, comfortable, loving homes in which to live out the rest of their days. Please reach out and meet one of these adoptable animals today!
Have you adopted a senior pet and have a story to tell? Share it with us here or on Facebook!