Why Adopt A Senior Pet?

Why Would Anyone Adopt A Senior Pet?

"I Want A Puppy!!! I Want A Kitty!!!" Oh, you only think you do! If you only knew how many people I have this conversation with. Everyone loves a soft warm snuggly puppy or kitten. But guess what ~ the puppies aren't housebroken, they chew or scratch on great-grandma's chair, they demand activity, they are destructive when bored, and, worse yet, no matter how hard you try, they eventually become a dog or cat! Most people, despite what they might think, are much better off with an adult dog or cat ~ it is more inclined to learn, it is more mellow, and is already as big as it's going to get ~ no suprises there! But even among those who realize they will do better with an adult, there are even fewer who recognize the special joys of a senior pet. As one of our fosters recently said after fostering Jess, an 11-year-old terrier, "I have learned more from her than from any other dog I have ever owned." There is something truly special about a rescued senior pet, a gratitude, a depth of relationship that it is hard to describe. Take the time to read the e-mail we received from Hugh after he adopted Suzie:

"I recently moved to Kissimmee to take advantage of a job offer, but my wife and children remain in New York until the kids finish college and we can sell the house up there. In the meantime, I found myself becoming very lonely in the evenings and weekends. I’ve always had a pet since my earliest memories and my family has a soft spot for strays and forgotten or unwanted animals, so I had been considering a dog or cat to keep me company.

A co-worker mentioned Judy’s adoption service, so I found the website and completed a “foster parent’ application. Not much more than a week later, I was just about to leave my office in Oviedo when I got a call from Lou (short for, I believe, ‘MaryLouise’), one of Judy’s “headhunters.” She said she was glad she caught me before I left the office — Judy was going to be at PetSmart in Oviedo and had an older Greyhound who had been at the Humane Society for a while and her time was up. She was about to be put down if someone wouldn’t take her. Of course, Judy rescued her, but the older dog seemed nervous and overwhelmed by the activity, and needed a quiet and safe home.
Lou thought that this was a match made in heaven and when I asked the dog’s name, she told me it was Suzie. My wife’s name is Susan, so I thought this must be fate. I met Suzie at PetSmart about an hour later, and armed with a leash, a bag of ScienceDiet food and a crate, I took Suzie home to Kissimmee. She seemed nervous in the car for the hour-long ride, but she was well behaved otherwise. She loved to be walked around the community pond, but she wouldn’t eat anything the first night. This concerned me because she was so thin, even for a Greyhound. Unfortunately, her nerves and her poor diet led to diarrhea the first two days, and she did have a few accidents (on our brand new cream-colored carpet!) but things got cleaned up okay. A change in diet and frequent walks helped. The second day, realizing that Suzie was going to be staying for more than a visit, I bought her a stylish red collar with matching leash, and a cushioned bed which she absolutely loves. She and I had to negotiate which areas of the house she could have free reign in; I wasn’t too keen on keeping her in a crate, no matter how big, since I’m out of the house almost 11 hours a day. A gate with some towels draped over it makes a clear line of demarcation: Suzie is NOT to spend her days in the formal living room! I throw a sheet over the couch in the family room (the rearrangement of the throw-pillows was a tell-tale sign that she likes her comfort), and she makes use of the wee-wee pads that cover the carpet under the coffee table. Other than that, she has not chewed anything or pooped in the house.
She has been introduced to the family in New York via webcam, although my wife doesn’t believe that the dog already bore the same name! She is my constant companion. Times like now, when I sit at the computer, she is at my feet under the desk. If I watch TV in the family room, she gets comfortable on her padded blankie/bed beside me. She knows after her nine-o’clock walk, it’s time to go up the stairs (which she has just learned to climb at this late date) and get ready for the night. There is nothing as rewarding when I come home after a day’s work, to be greeted at the door by my new companion, who wants nothing more than a little of my attention and to be taken care of. I am so grateful to Judy for her rescue efforts, and to her staff, like Lou and yourself. Puppies are adorable, but it wouldn’t be realistic for me to take one at this time in my circumstances. There is a lot to be said for a more mature dog or cat, so please feel free to publish this if it will encourage others to open their hearts and homes to an older pet.
Good luck, and God bless you all for watching out for His creatures.
~ Hugh M.

Top 10 Reasons For Adopting A Senior Dog

1. Older dogs are housetrained. You won't have to go through the difficult stage(s) of teaching a puppy house manners and mopping/cleaning up after accidents.

2. Older dogs are not teething puppies, and won't chew your shoes and furniture while growing up.

3. Older dogs can focus well because they've mellowed. Therefore, they learn quickly.

4. Older dogs have learned what "no" means. If they hadn't learned it, they wouldn't have gotten to be "older" dogs.

5. Older dogs settle in easily, because they've learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack.

6. Older dogs are good at giving love, once they get into their new, loving home. They are grateful for the second chance they've been given.

7. What You See Is What You Get: Unlike puppies, older dogs have grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grow up to be quite different from what they seemed at first.

8. Older dogs are instant companions -- ready for hiking, car trips, and other things you like to do.

9. Older dogs leave you time for yourself, because they don't make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies and young dogs do.

10. Older dogs let you get a good night's sleep because they're accustomed to human schedules and don't generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or bathroom breaks.

Used with the permission of the Senior Dog Project, www.srdogs.com

If you happen to be a senior yourself, learn about our "Seniors For Seniors Program here.