Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month Good Time for Seniors to
Find a Healthful Companion
Pets Are Paws-i-tive says Petfinder.com; help improve
seniors health, mood
By Joan
Banks, Petfinder.com
November is the American Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Adopt a Senior
Pet Month - a month dedicated to the often overlooked senior
animals who come into shelters.
Watauga Humane Society shelter
manager Lynn Northup said it is often hard to find new homes for
senior pets when they come into a shelter because most people
want to adopt a puppy or a kitten.
Oct. 26, 2009 - Guess what? Pets are good for senior citizens.
Stroking a cat or dog can lower your blood pressure and having someone
to care for - and yes, talk to - can lighten your mood. Walking a dog is
a sure-fire way to get more exercise and to help with weight control.
Petfinder.com celebrates November as Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month. And
for senior citizens, older pets fill the bill in many ways. For one
thing, you'll know what you're getting.
A golden oldie's personality is apparent. You can
see if a pet is a couch potato or a jumping jack. The chewing stage is
long gone, and senior dogs have often been housetrained and know basic
manners, like "Sit" and "Stay."
Cats and dogs alike have often been spayed or
neutered. Finally, you'll feel especially good about adopting a pet that
might otherwise be rejected because of its age.
Here are some things to consider before adopting
any pet:
● Think about your own physical condition. How
much energy at the end of the leash can you handle? I watched in horror
one day as my dad's Lhasa Apso pulled him down when they were out on a
walk. I found myself wishing he had opted for a Chihuahua or a cat.
Jan. 9, 2006 – Nursing home residents feel much less lonely after
spending time alone with a
dog than they did when they visited with a dog and other people.
Jan. 22, 2002 - Imagine not being able to reach a
light switch, pick up your keys when you drop them, or open a
cabinet door. Then imagine having a dog that could do all of that
and more for you. These special canines are helping hundreds live
more independent lives
● Check out breed characteristics on
Petfinder.com before adopting. A Jack Russell Terrier or an
Australian Shepherd needs a lot of exercise, while a Basset Hound is
more lethargic. If you are an apartment dweller and you want a dog, you
will need to consider how he or she will get exercise. Do you have the
time and energy?
● Does the place you're living allow pets? If
not, you can ask your physician to write a letter, prescribing a pet for
your health (based on a new U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
rule). Present your landlord with the letter and he or she may lift the
pet restriction for you.
● What is your financial situation? Having a pet
is not free. First, there’s the expense of acquiring one. Pets from
animal welfare groups require an adoption fee, but it's much less than
buying a pet from a pet store or a breeder (and there are plenty of
purebreds listed on
Petfinder.com, if that's what you want).
● Pet food can run into big bucks if the animal
is large or needs special food. Grooming, veterinary bills and supplies
add to the bottom line. Do you have the discretionary money to spend on
a pet?
Jeanie Christianson of New York City sings the
praises of adopting older animals. She adopted an older cat from a
shelter after seeing him on
Petfinder.com.
“The fact that he’s older just seems to mean that
he’s had longer to tune into humans and figure out just what they need,”
she says. Sounds perfect.
Pets can play a valuable role in the lives of
senior citizens. Best of all, a companion animal will give you a whole
new reason for getting up to enjoy each day.
Top 10 Reasons to
Adopt an Older Dog
By The American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
1. What You See Is
What You Get
Older dogs are open
books—from the start, you’ll know important things like their full-grown
size, personality and grooming requirements. All this information makes
it easier to pick the right dog and forge that instant love connection
that will last a lifetime. If you’re not so into surprises, an older dog
is for you!
2. Easy to Train
Think you can’t
teach an old dog new tricks? Hogwash! Older dogs are great at focusing
on you—and on the task at hand—because they’re calmer than youngsters.
Plus, all those years of experience reading humans can help them quickly
figure out how to do what you’re asking.
3. Seniors are
Super-Loving
One of the cool
parts of our job is reading stories from people just like you who have
opted to adopt. The emails we get from pet parents with senior dogs seem
to all contain beautiful, heartfelt descriptions of the love these dogs
give you—and those of you who adopted dogs already in their golden years
told us how devoted and grateful they are. It's an instant bond that
cannot be topped!
4. They’re Not a
24-7 Job
Grownup dogs don’t
require the constant monitoring puppies do, leaving you with more
freedom to do your own thing. If you have young children, or just value
your “me time,” this is definitely a bonus.
5. They Settle in
Quickly
Older dogs have been
around the block and already learned what it takes to get along with
others and become part of a pack. They’ll be part of the family in no
time!
6. Fewer Messes
Your floors, shoes
and furniture will thank you for adopting a senior pooch! Older dogs are
likely to already be housetrained—and even if they’re not, they have the
physical and mental abilities to pick it up really fast (unlike
puppies). With their teething years far behind them, seniors also are
much less likely to be destructive chewers.
7. You Won’t Bite
Off More Than You Can Chew
There are those who
yearn for a doggie friend of their own, but hold back because they worry
what might happen in their lives in the years to come. And they are wise
to do so—a puppy or young dog can be anywhere from an 8- to 20-year
responsibility, which is not appropriate for the very elderly or those
with certain long-term future plans. Providing a loving home for a dog
in her golden years is not a less serious commitment, but it can be a
shorter one.
8. They Enjoy Easy
Livin’
Couch potato, know
thyself! Please consider a canine retiree rather than a high-energy
young dog who will run you ragged. Not that older dogs don’t require any
exercise—they do—but they’re not going to need, or want, to run a
marathon every day.
9. Save a Life, Be a
Hero
At shelters, older
dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized.
Saving an animal’s life offers an unparalleled emotional return on your
investment, and you’ll feel the rewards every day you spend together.
The ASPCA was the
first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Its mission, as
stated by the founder, Henry Bergh, in 1866, is “to provide effective
means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United
States.”
http://www.aspca.org/
The ASPCA works to
rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with
shelters nationwide. Learn more about what we do, and join our fight
today!
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