Most adopting families tend to lean towards pets who are on the younger side. Senior pets are oftentimes overlooked and sometimes not even considered when deciding on a new family member. So, are you looking to adopt a pet soon but you aren’t sure if you should get a young little fella or an older wise one? This blogpost will hopefully help you with your decision!
There are a lot of upsides to adopting a senior pet. The biggest one is that they have passed and outgrown their hyper and destructive phase. This doesn’t mean that senior pets can’t be playful, but they are definitely on the calmer, more reserved side compared to younger pets. This is why senior pets are usually preferred for people who are a bit older or people who generally live a calm lifestyle.
Next is the fact that a lot of the basic skills have already been taught. For instance, potty training won’t be needed when introducing your pet to their new environment. Older pets already know that, when it’s time to go, they’ll know to go outside. This saves the adopter a lot of time and stress. This doesn’t mean that senior pets can’t learn new things! You can always teach them new things outside of the basics.
Every adoption agency is against breeding. There are currently too many unwanted pets looking for homes. Therefore, adoption centers and facilities practice population control. This means senior pets will already be spayed, neutered and oftentimes fully vaccinated with the core vaccines, including rabies. This will save you a lot of unnecessary costs.
Lastly, consider yourself a hero! Way too many pets get abandoned and euthanized after failing to find a home. Every pet deserves to stay at a loving and caring home for the remainder of their years. The love you are bound to share might even inspire others to go out and adopt a senior pet themselves.
sources:
Foust, M. (2023, March 2). Local animal shelters give senior pets a second chance during Senior Pet Month – Webster Journal. Webster Journal. https://websterjournal.com/2022/11/06/local-animal-shelters-give-senior-pets-a-second-chance-during-senior-pet-month/
Hospital, O. R. A., & Hospital, O. R. A. (n.d.). 10 reasons senior doggos are the best. Orchard Road Animal Hospital. https://www.orchardroadanimalhospital.com/services/dogs/blog/10-reasons-senior-doggos-are-best
BC SPCA. (2024, January 5). Senior animals make great pets. https://spca.bc.ca/news/senior-animals-make-great-pets/
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