If you are looking to adopt a dog or cat, a senior pet is a great option. Here are 10 reasons we believe you need to adopt a senior pet!
Older dogs/cats are more likely to be housebroken.
Forget having to potty train and how to behave indoors - adult pets are more likely to be trained already, so you don’t have to worry about it!
Older dogs and cats tend to be calmer and less demanding.
Kittens and puppies often have a lot of energy. However, when you adopt an older dog or cat, they are out of their energetic stage, and into their calmer adult stage.
No (or very little) surprises!
When you adopt an older cat or dog, you know (almost) exactly what you are getting the moment you adopt, provided you spend adequate time with them. They have already come into their personality, size, and other characteristics. While some personality traits may not make themselves known immediately, many of them are apparent if you spend adequate time with the animal before taking them home. Very few surprises here!
Old dogs can learn new tricks.
If you are wanting to be able to train a dog (or cat), you don’t have to have a puppy or a kitten. In fact, older animals can learn new tricks. Not only are you getting to teach a pet new tricks, but you are getting all of the other benefits of owning a senior pet.
Just because your pet is an adult, doesn’t mean it won’t be around for a long time.
A dog or cat is considered senior at a fairly early age (around 6-10 years for dogs, depending on breed; around 11 years for cats). Indoor cats can live up to about 17 years while dogs live up to about 15 years. This leaves many years left in most of these pets for you and your family to enjoy.
You can save a life.
Senior pets are often the last to be adopted from shelters, if they are ever adopted. In shelters that are overcrowded and euthanize animals, the older pets are often the ones to be euthanized first. If you offer a senior pet a loving home, you are probably saving their life.
An older pet often makes an instant companion
Older pets have often been socialized previously, so they are used to people and sometimes other animals. This means it won’t take long for your new senior pet to warm up to you and their new life.