Adopting Senior Pets – More Rewarding Than You Realize

Who saves who? Adopting a senior pet is so much more rewarding than you’ll ever know until you KNOW.

Adopting a pet from a local shelter or humane society is amazing and highly recommended. I absolutely love hearing new pet owners say that they rescued their newest fur baby from a shelter. There are so many pets available for adoption in shelters that need to find their furever homes. At JenLovesPets we are huge advocates for adopting. Not only does it save a pet’s life, but it is also a rewarding feeling knowing that you did so.
Shelters are filled with cats and dogs of all ages. A high number of families go into the shelters looking for pets that are younger. There certainly is nothing wrong with adopting a puppy or young aged pet because you’re still rescuing an animal in need of a home. Unfortunately the older pets tend to be overlooked because of their age. A “senior” pet is considered age seven and above. These older fur babies are just as deserving of a home as the young bucks! They may even be a better fit for your household and lifestyle.
Personally I prefer adopting pets on the higher side of the age spectrum. Previously I was the type to always want a kitten and growing up, many of our household cats were adopted as kittens. It wasn’t until I was in college when I grew a different mindset towards adoption and my love for senior pets. I adopted my first senior pet, Lily Muffin, a wonderful 13 year old cat. She spent months at the shelter even though she was a beautiful girl with a shy, but very sweet personality. I overlooked her age and decided to adopt her. Lily Muffin had no problem fitting into her new household as a spoiled, only child. It was great watching her become more and more comfortable in her new surroundings. She had a health condition and made it to age 16, but I truly believe I gave her three very happy and loving years of her life.
Why adopt a senior pet? There are many positive benefits that come along with older pet adoptions. Their personalities are formed and you already know their temperament. Everyone has a different lifestyle and daily schedule. With senior pets you can have a better idea of who that pet is and what their personality is like. You can easily determine what personality will be best for your family dynamic. With kittens and puppies it is more of a surprise of what temperament they will develop. Another advantage is that an older pet comes with less stress of training them. Lots of patience and time are required with younger pets. Older dogs have more experience with house training and knowing different commands.
Nothing beats the feeling of giving a pet a family and a second chance. That alone is why adopting an older pet is so rewarding. They could potentially wait in the shelter for long periods of time as they hope to be adopted. A loving household and unconditional love is what they ultimately deserve. So whether or not you adopt an older pet, as long as you adopt from a shelter, you’ll be asking yourself “who saved who” like the bumper sticker says.