Have you considered welcoming a "senior" pooch or puss-cat into your home?
It is a commonly held view amongst most veterinarians, a dog falls into the “senior” category around age seven. The size of a dog, however, affects this category. Smaller dogs tend to mature at a slower rate and become seniors later in life than larger breads. Animal shelters are filled with healthy and active senior dogs and cats that are in desperate need of a home.
If you have decided to adopt of a dog or cat from your local animal shelter, please consider the "senior" dogs and cats. They make wonderful companions for a number of reasons.
1. Senior dogs and cats at shelters need homes just as badly as younger pets. Many older dogs and cats were once owned and loved by someone. For whatever reason, they were given up and abandoned in a shelter and are in need of a home. Just like puppies and kittens, they make loyal and loving companions.
2. Adopting an older pet may save its life. Many people are quick to adopt puppies and kittens, often overlooking dogs and cats over the age of five. Shelters are overcrowded and unfortunately, older animals are among the first to be euthanized if they aren’t adopted in a timely manner. By adopting a senior pet, you are not only providing it with a better life but are also saving its life!
3. "Senior" pets are not necessarily “problem” animals. Older pets lose their homes for a variety of reasons, usually having nothing to do with their behaviour or temperament, but more due to the fact that their owners are unable to keep them for reasons including:
the novelty of owning a pet wearing off
allergies
death of a guardian
a new baby
loss of a job
a home move
change in work conditions
various other lifestyle changes
These pets need homes just as badly as young adopters do, and make wonderful household pets.
4. Older pets usually come trained and understand at least basic commands. Older pets are trained and have mastered the basic commands that suit domestic living. Adopting an already-trained animal will save you a lot of time and energy that you’d normally have to dedicate towards training a young pet.
5. You can teach an “old dog new tricks”. Dogs and cats can be trained at any age and older animals are just as smart as younger ones. Older pets have a greater attention span than puppies and kittens, which make them easier to train.
6. Older pets are calmer and less energetic than younger animals. An adult pet has an established demeanour and temperament, which will give you an instant idea of how it will fit into your home. Many of them do well with young children as they have a lower energy level and have possibly lived with them in their past homes.
7. Older pets make instant companions. Unlike a puppy, which requires leash training, etc. an older dog is ready to accompany you on a long walk and already knows how to play fetch. An adult pet will be a loyal companion, and a late night snuggle buddy.
My message to you is that pets "enrich" our lives in ways we never imagined. I don't envisage a time, where my home will not include pets. I am also acutely aware that my energy levels and tolerances certainly are not what they used to be! With that in mind our days of bringing home a "puppy" or a "kitten" are behind us.
"Seniors persons" consider adopting "Senior pets"
...and remember...have a fabulous retirementLIFE....
