ASHEVILLE-NOV2021-WEB

The Best Reasons to
Adopt an Older Pet
Are you looking for a devoted and loving feline or
canine companion who is mature and well-behaved? Want
a pet who will fit right into your busy lifestyle without major
interruptions to your schedule? Then instead of taking on
a puppy - who will require frequent feedings, potty breaks,
and house-training, consider adopting an older dog. And
the same goes for cats. They will definitely not require the
near constant attention that a kitten needs.
November officially marks Adopt-a-Senior Pet Month,
and to honor this special month, it’s helpful to know all of
the benefits of opening your heart and your home to a
senior pet in need.
While their younger counterparts may be adorable,
older pets are just as cute and loving, and they are also
just as ready to become beloved pets. They just need
someone to give them a chance to live out their golden
years in a loving home.
Since senior pets are fully grown, you’ll be immediately
aware of important information like personality type and
grooming requirements, making it easier to choose the
perfect pet for your family. And senior pets have already
grown into their personalities, so they are usually pretty
easy-going and set in their ways.
It is a sad fact that senior pets are often the last to be
adopted from shelters, putting them at an increased risk
for euthanasia. When you adopt a senior pet, you’re not
only welcoming a lifetime of love into your home, you’re
also saving a precious life—and what could be better than
that?
If you’ve been thinking about adding a four-leggedfriend
to your family, consider opening your home and
your heart to an older dog or cat in need. There are many
benefits to adopting a senior dog—or cat ... and here are a
just a few:
1) What you see is what you get! According to PAWS
Atlanta, by adopting an older pet, "...you get a known
entity. You get to see exactly what the personality is.
With a puppy or kitten, you don't quite know what the
personality is going to be."
2) No chewed up shoes! You won't have to deal with
the baby-type behaviors that puppies often exhibit, for
instance, like "chewing on your best shoes." Susan
Feingold of Southern Hope Humane Society in Atlanta,
adds that adopting an older dog is ideal for working people
or busy families who don't want the hassle of dealing with
an energetic young pet. "The first year of a dog's life can
be very high energy - and older dogs are calmer. For
people who want a more laid back kind of pet, an older
dog is a wise choice,” says Feingold.
3) Usually housebroken. Older pets may already be
housebroken but if not, they're easier to train because
they have more bladder control. For instance, young
puppies have to be let out frequently throughout the day,
whereas an older dog can hold it for longer.
4) Often already spayed or neutered. Many older pets
have already been spayed or neutered by their previous
caregivers.
5) Used to being part of a family unit. Many older dogs
are given up by their previous families due to a change in
life circumstances, such as a move or the birth of a child.
This means they are displaced pack members. Because
of this, these dogs are "eager to please the new
family they join,” says Kerry Moyers-Horton of No More
Homeless Pets Atlanta. "Older dogs just fit right in."
6) Sleeps through the night. An older dog has learned to
sleep all night along with the family, which means that
your sleep won't be interrupted.
7) Usually leash- and car-trained. Older dogs that have
been part of families typically know how to walk on a leash
and have good car manners.
8) Older dogs have learned what "no" means. If they
hadn't learned it, they wouldn't have gotten to be "older"
dogs.
9) Older dogs leave you time for yourself. Because
they don't make the kinds of demands on your time and
attention that pups and young dogs do, you can have
some down time.
10) You'll be saving a life. This is perhaps the most
compelling reason for giving an older pet a home -
because there are so many more of them in need. It's
easy to move the cute little puppies and kittens out the
door. But older dogs, especially those at shelters, are
subject to misunderstandings that make it hard for them
to find new homes - misunderstandings like they're all
rejects or have behavior problems. But these myths
simply are not true. "Adults dogs (in shelters) have come
upon hard times, so they're grateful," to be adopted, says
Feingold, "and they bond very quickly with their new
family."
Before taking home any dog or cat, make sure it's a
good match for both your family and any other pets in the
home. Most shelters and rescue programs will be familiar
with a pet’s temperament and have ways to help you get
to know them before making a decision. Let existing pets
be part of the visits to ensure that the new family member
will be well received by everyone.
Adoption fees vary in price and may include spay/
neuter, shots, and micro-chipping. What you'll get in
return is priceless. Take it from Nancy Meyers, a Georgia
resident who recently adopted 10-year old Annie from No
More Homeless Pets. Nancy says her family couldn't be
happier. "Annie has the most wonderful personality. I can't
believe anybody abandoned her. She sleeps all night, and
she was house-trained and leash-trained. She fit right into
our schedule. We're very pleased."
American Humane estimates that as many as
10 million friendly, healthy pets are killed in US shelters
every year simply because there aren't enough homes for
them all. By adopting, you'll be part of the solution to the
overpopulation problem in this country. “Adopting an adult
dog,” says Susan Feingold, "is the right thing to do. It
teaches children a good lesson that an older dog is just as
deserving of being saved as a younger one.” For more
information on how you can help stop the overpopulation
problem, visit www.spotsociety.org.
To find a senior pet in your area, check out
rescues and shelters in Critter Magazine online at
www.crittermagazine.com or visit www.srdogs.com.
CRITTER MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2021 • PAGE 11