Did you know that November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month? If you’re thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, please consider opening your heart and home to an older cat or dog in need. Senior pets are often the last to be adopted from shelters, overlooked because of their age or the assumption that they are in a shelter because they are “problem pets.”
Senior pets lose their homes for a variety of reasons, usually having nothing to do with their behavior or temperament, but because their owners are unable to keep them due to death of a guardian, loss of job, a move, change in work schedule, or other lifestyle change.
Senior animals need homes just as much as puppies and younger adult pets do, and there are many perks to adopting a senior pet. Their physical size is established, and their temperaments and personalities are also fully developed. They have already grown into who and what they are going to be. Typically, an older pet has been exposed to some basic obedience training, is familiar with living in a house, and is often house- or litter-box trained. In most cases, the transition into your home will be easier than with a younger dog or puppy. Puppies and kittens must be taught not to chew, scratch, or play-bite. Older pets have usually moved beyond this behavior. If you are looking for a low energy pet who is content with a walk and then to cuddle up on the couch to keep you company while you watch TV or read, a senior pet is the perfect match for you. Senior pets aren’t as rambunctious as puppies or kittens, and in most cases, their requirements for exercise will be far less.
If a senior pet sounds like the perfect match for you and your family, visit our shelter to look for pets 7 years of age or older. Our adoption team is always happy to provide a personalized recommendation. If now is not the best time for you to adopt, consider helping a senior pet by fostering, volunteering, or donating. Your support—and the many forms it takes—makes our mission to save and transform the lives of animals in need possible. Thank you for making GMHS a beacon of hope and a safe harbor for homeless pets.