June 2017

SENIORS
Senior pets
make great
companions
by Candice Russell
Animal shelters in the summertime
may be overrun with puppies and
kittens. But there is little worry
that these bundles of fluffiness
and cuteness will find their forever
A Celebration of
homes. The fact is the youngest
pets are irresistible to many adults
and children.
Rememberance
Usually overlooked are the older
dogs and cats. This is a shame
because potentially they adapt
more easily to a new home and present
fewer behavioral problems with training.
From peeing on the carpet to climbing
expensive silk curtains, puppies and
kittens can create havoc without
supervision.
“We get a lot returns of puppies because
they messed in the house or chewed
something,” said Lisa Mendeim, public
education coordinator of Broward County
Animal Care in Fort Lauderdale.
“People need
to be realistic
with young
animals, there
are going to be
accidents. A lot
of people have
no time for
training. Senior
pets are great
companions
and very
appreciative.”
At what age is a dog or cat considered
a senior? According to Dr. Lisa
Feinstein, formerly of the Plantation
Animal Hospital, it is eight years old,
though an animal’s breed is also a
factor in how long it will live. “Little
dogs, like Yorkshires or Maltese,
live longer than Great Danes and
Rottweilers,” Feinstein said. “Just
as with people, senior pets present
health challenges. You may or may
not want to invest in a life-saving
surgery. It’s a quality of life issues
for senior pets.”
“All senior pets need is love,”
said Cherie Wachter, public
relations and marketing
person with the Humane
Society of Broward County in
Fort Lauderdale.
She sees older pets given up
for many reasons, some include
moving to a no-pets apartment or
allergies.
Wachter has fostered senior pets from
the shelter, including a Yorkshire terrier
whose owner had passed away. She
kept the dog for a year. “She was just so
sweet,” Wachter said. “She loved to give
kisses and be petted. With older pets,
you know their personalities. There aren’t
by Jane Silver
A Bundle of Joy painted by Ken Slossberg, DVM.
a lot of surprises in store.”
Wachter recommends that adopters of
older pets pay attention to them. “Be
observant of their habits in terms of
eating or elimination in case there is a
sign of trouble,” she said.
Jennifer Hummel is dedicated to
the cause of senior canines through
her organization vintagepaws.org in
Sarasota. It is a senior dog sanctuary that
houses older dogs and finds foster and
forever homes for them. The genesis of
the organization was personal.
“My mother passed away when
I was 16,” Hummel said. “She
dropped off our three senior dogs
at the shelter.”
Hummel gets older dogs from owner
surrenders and no-kill shelters in Florida.
“A lot of them come to be neglected, so
we look at their dental and skin problems
and fix them up,” she said.
Having helped hundreds of dogs so far,
Hummel observed, “Senior dogs are
more mellow. They just want to hang
out with you and take a slow walk.
Some still have energy, but they are
good, easy pets.”
102
JUNE 2017