November is a very special month. It’s Adopt a Senior Pet Month! It’s a time to celebrate our older shelter pets because they have a lot of love still left to give. Sadly, older pets may stay longer at the shelter before they are adopted. Not only can it be hard for older pets to compete with their puppy and kitten counterparts, but many people have concerns regarding the health and behavior of senior shelter pets. But the truth is senior pets still have a lot of love to give their families, and often come with a lot of benefits. Here are just 6 reasons a senior pet may be the perfect pet for you.
6. Older pets often come with fewer surprises.
Senior pets in the shelter often come from another home, but have found themselves searching for a new one through no fault of their own. Their family have hit a rough time and no longer been able to provide for them or had to move and weren’t able to bring their pet with them. In these cases, Lollypop Farm Admissions Counselors are able to gather information about how the pet was in the home to find the perfect match for that pet. People surrendering their pets may be able to provide information about whether the pet was good with kids, if they enjoyed the company of other animals, what the pet’s energy level was like, and more. With this information in mind, our adoption counselors work with you to determine if your lifestyle and family are a good fit for the new pet coming into your home.
5. Senior pets are often less demanding.
Puppies and kittens are adorable, but let’s face it they may not be right for everyone. Between making sure they don’t get into trouble around the house, training, and constant play to keep their active minds engaged, there can be little time to sit down and relax. Senior pets may still enjoy a nice brisk walk, but they are often also perfectly content to snuggle and nap while you binge watch your favorite series.
4. Senior pets may already have training.
It’s pretty good chance that your senior pet has already received some training that will make bringing them into your home a little easier. Senior dogs are often already house trained which can certainly make life a little less messy, but they often know basic commands as well. They’ve often learned good house manners like not to chew on shoes and furniture. So you can enjoy their company, love, and affection without a lot of the worry.
3. Have an instant companion with your senior pet.
Since many senior pets have already lived in a home, they are already socialized and ready to bond with a human companion. That means they are already craving your time, love, pets, and snuggles. Socialized pets often do better with families with children too. That means when you bring your senior home you can get right into being one big happy family.
2. Potentially save money while saving a life.
Since senior pets can have a longer wait when looking for a new home, organizations like Lollypop Farm will offer a little incentive to help them out. With help from grants provided by Pets for the Elderly and The Grey Muzzle Organization, Lollypop Farm is able to waive adoption fees for senior pets to people ages 60 and older.
1. You’ll be a hero.
When you adopt a senior pet, you are giving a deserving pet a second chance at a happy life with a loving family. Senior cats and dogs have a lot of love left to give their new family, and will show their gratitude with love and affection. Not only will you be saving a senior pet in need, but you’ll be freeing up space in the shelter for another pet ready to find a new home.
Interested in adopting a senior pet this November? View pets for adoption at https://www.lollypop.org/adopt/adoptable-pets/.
