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Do a Senior Pet a Favor

Do a Senior Pet a Favor
by
October 09, 2024
in Humane Education Column
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By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist

When you glance through the dogs and cats up for adoption, do you ever give serious thought to actually going to visit some of the senior pets and possibly adopting them? Or fostering them until they find a forever home?

Ark-Valley Humane Society has several older dogs and cats who need new homes or time away from the shelter. The reason some older animals are there varies, but each had a previous home and for whatever reason ended up at the shelter.

They are loving and adaptable despite some thinking you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. You can. It simply requires a bit of patience and loving care.

Stasia is a 9-year-old female Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix who enjoys short walks. That’s one advantage of adopting older dogs – they require fewer long walks and less exercise than much younger dogs or puppies. Much less than puppies!

Theo is a 9-year-old Boxer/Basenji mix who loves to cuddle and simply enjoys being with you. What’s better than a dog who cuddles you when you need some support or loving?

Benji is a 7-year-old Domestic Shorthair cat who, as a typical cat, likes attention and doing his own thing. Independence is definitely an underrated asset. You can leave him for a bit and Benji will be content. Maybe a little catnip as a treat.

So…you can enjoy many years with an older pet. A visit to the vet asap after adopting is essential and is a time to ask the vet any questions you want answered. Ark-Valley Humane Society runs blood work panels on all senior pets 8 years and older prior to adoption, in addition to completing initial health exams and vaccinations, so be sure to bring along their medical history, provided to you at the time of adoption.

After having lived in previous homes for some time, it’s necessary to allow newly adopted senior pets to adjust to a new place and new schedules and any other pets that may be present in the home. You might want to give the new senior a quiet place of his/her own initially while they adapt to the other pets and the routines of the household.

Adopting a senior pet can be a challenge, but so is adopting any other pet. Especially young and more excitable dogs. You can do it and reap the rewards of saving a dog or cat from being homeless and now loved and cherished for their own personality. They give every bit as much love as a younger pet and maybe more.

Since I am a regular visitor to the local library and they currently have a display of dog books, I was immediately pulled in that direction. Books are magnets to me.

Anyway, I brought home two books of particular interest and relevant to adopting senior dogs. First, My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts by Laura T. Coffey and photos by Lori Fusaro. It is dedicated to all the older dogs who deserve to have remarkable second acts. Stories and photos include Fiona, age 17, a so-called hospice dog who ditches her little red wagon and starts dancing, followed by Einstein, age 10, who met George Clooney and it was love at first sniff. Einstein is a black cocker spaniel with a sad past with an enchanting smile. About adopting Einstein, Clooney marked that “Age doesn’t matter.”

The second book is Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs by Gene Weingarten. Each short story about a dog is followed by a full-page photo of that dog. Page 22 tells of a blind dog named Skippy, 17, who always walks 20 feet behind Matt, his companion all these years. He sometimes mistakes a tree for Matt and sits awaiting further instructions. I love that.

Enjoy all older pets. You are EVERYTHING to them in their later years.

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