I had never considered adopting a senior pet until it just “happened.” We were thinking of getting a second dog, another hypoallergenic dog to be a companion for our Bichon mix, Luke, and when the local Humane Society ran a photo in our local newspaper of a toy poodle named “Ben Arffleck”, up for adoption during a special promotion for senior pets, that was it. The photo, type of dog and his “punny” name made me smile and think, “Why not?”, so I cut out the photo, talked to my family and soon we were having an “in-home” visit with Ben and his foster “parents”. Another adoptive family—an older, married couple—was also interested in adopting him, and the foster volunteers had to decide which was the better fit, looking at not just the people involved but the yard, house, current pets, etc. We “won,” as they decided that with me working from home at the time and my husband and two older kids around in the evenings to love on him (plus a French exchange student who was living with us) that he’d get lots of attention.
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Boy did we ever win, as he turned out to be one of the best pets we’d ever experienced!
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If you’re seeing or hearing any ads about pet adoption this month, chances are they say something about adopting senior pets, as November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month. While I came to be a senior pet owner sort of by chance, I’m now wholeheartedly behind helping to promote senior pet adoption, or more specifically, helping people at least give consideration to adopting a senior pet if they’ve made the big decision to invest the time, money and energy it takes to properly care for any pet. Owning a senior pet is not for everyone, but it should at least be given consideration, as there are many advantages, not the least of which is that you’re saving a life– seniors are often the last to be adopted (and at risk of being euthanized) at shelters. Ironically for many potential pet owners, they just may be the best pets up for adoption!
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There are numerous good lists online where you can learn about the benefits and downsides of adopting senior pets, generated from such sources as the ASPCA, Chewy, The Animal Foundation and even the dog whisperer, Cesar Millan. Here are my thoughts on the most-repeated lines about senior pets, based on my experience:
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Age is just a number. Very true, and the age of what is considered a senior can vary by rescue group, vet, shelter, etc. So don’t let it scare you off. While age 7 seems to be the average age at which a dog is qualified as a senior (and for cats, it’s more like 10-11), a pet’s life expectancy (and “senior” status) actually varies depending on breed/size. For example, according to a post at be.chewy.com, “smaller dogs tend to live longer, with Dachshunds and Jack Russell Terriers potentially living into their late teens and even early twenties…a larger dog’s life expectancy, on the other hand, will be more in the 10 to 15 year range.” And, when a pet is a rescue and its age is not known, the age is determined by a variety of things that aren’t a perfect predictor—like teeth. Or eyes. Little Ben had a little bit of cloudiness in his eyes, one thing that made the Humane Society’s vet think he was “9 or 10” when we got him. Just in case he really was older than that, I thought we’d be lucky to have him four years– he ended up living eight more years! (Our most recent rescue dog acquisition, who we think might be a Labradoodle, was first thought to be a senior because of his bad teeth. But he was so boisterous, another vet examined him and determined him to be age 3, and said his bad teeth could have been from just “hard living” or possible distemper as a pup. A big difference, from senior to 3! But he’s such a good dog, we’re fine with him whatever his age may be.)
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For those pet owners that reeallly want to know more about a dog’s age, some commercial DNA test kits appear to be able to show a pet’s “biological age,” which is different from chronological age, but I’m not sure I’d want to go to the expense of finding out. Since I never knew Ben’s age for sure, every day with him was precious!
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Senior dogs and cats don’t require the constant monitoring and training that puppies and kittens do. True, no chewing problems (and ruined shoes) associated with puppies, or the ripped upholstery associated with kittens, as older cats hopefully already know how to use scratching posts. Older pets don’t have the nonstop energy of puppies and kittens, and let you get a good night’s sleep, as they are already accustomed to human schedules. And many senior pets have already been taught manners and have been housetrained (although in our case, with another male dog in the house already, we were unaware that would mean “marking territory” would still go on between the two!)
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Because not much time, if any, is required to train most senior pets, they can be instant companions, ready to walk on a leash or calmly cuddle up with you on the couch. This was definitely the case with Ben. He just jumped right in and “took over” as if he’d always lived with us.
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You know more about what you’re getting than with a puppy or kitten. Older pets are already full grown, so there are no surprises on how big they’re going to get. You’ll also know more about them, personality-wise, if adopting, especially if they’ve spent more than a few days at a shelter or in someone’s home, and the staff/volunteers have gotten to know them. The staff should be able to tell you their needs, habits, favorites, temperament, etc. And chances are, with senior pets, they’ve spent a lot of time at a shelter or in foster homes, because as mentioned previously, younger pets generally get adopted first, so the seniors stay weeks or even months (Ben Arffleck had lived with at least two foster families before we adopted him). At the municipal government where I work, the animal shelter staff usually post a lot of information on social media about the “long-time shelter residents” to let prospective adopters know as much as possible about them. And thanks to volunteers from the community allowed to take the dogs for a “doggy day out,” they learn, and share, even more about them!
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Senior pets are very appreciative. True in my experience! But… aren’t many pets of all ages face lickers, lap sitters and tail waggers, and isn’t that appreciation? Yes, but it seems to be a more reported trait among adopted senior pets. It appears repeatedly on online lists of senior pet advantages, and it truly was the first thing that stood out when Ben came to live with us—we didn’t know until later that we should have expected it! According to Seattle Humane, “Older dogs understand what it means to be rescued. They are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be in a loving new home of their own and will show you every day how much it means to them!” Ben made me feel like a rock star whenever I walked into the house or in the same room with him, he just always seemed to be so happy to be with us!
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Senior pets have more medical issues, and associated costs, than other pets. Not always true. My beautiful tabby cat, Clancey, had life threatening kidney/urinary tract issues on and off his whole life. Our dog, Luke, who we acquired at 6 months of age, was diagnosed with kidney failure a few years before he was considered a senior and has been on a prescription diet ever since. On the other hand, Ben Arffleck, the adopted senior, never had any major health issues until the last couple of months of his life, when he began getting sick from eating acorns found in the backyard. You just never know how healthy a pet is going to be, and I think anyone making the big step to own any pet needs to be prepared for extra costs, whether it’s veterinary care, pet sitting, food, supplies, etc.
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Senior pets, at some point, do sleep more, walk slower, can’t see as well and/or hear as well, but you make accommodations. When Ben had a harder time keeping up when out walking, I found the perfect pet stroller online and had a blast pushing him around the neighborhood, on city trails and at festivals. And I found a great, lumpy pet bed for him that was specifically made to ease joint pain. (More ideas for enriching a senior pet’s life can be found online, such as here and here.)
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Pet adopters can receive nice discounts for choosing a senior. True, especially in November! Many shelters and pet rescue organizations waive adoption fees during National Adopt a Senior Pet Month; some offer senior specials at other times as well. Clear the Shelters, an event held every year beginning in late August at shelters nationwide, features discounts on all pet adoptions.
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