November: Adopt a Senior Pet Month ~ Pawprints and Purrs< inc.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Petfinder.com celebrate November as Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month.

At animal shelters and rescue groups across the nation, there are an abundance of healthy senior pets looking for a special home to cherish them for the rest of their lives. Although shaping the life of a youngster sounds appealing, giving a second chance to an older companion can be equally rewarding. They like to share quiet moments, are already trained and usually do not chew or scratch everything in sight. "Older pets have plenty to offer adopters – not the least of which is love," comments Jacque Schultz, ASPCA Companion Animal Programs Advisor.

The following are some thoughts about adopting a senior pet:

Dietary Intake: Nutritional requirements are important to an older pet. The caloric value needs to be less if they are to remain fit and trim. Rich foods, as a rule, should be avoided.

Matching Life Styles: An adult animal's relatively calm demeanor and less intense exercise needs make them the perfect match for a full-time, working household or an older person seeking friendship and love. Older pets often make excellent or at the very least, agreeable companions for other household pets, as well.

Physical Demands are Low: Fortunately, many senior animals are not as demanding as a younger animal. Like any animal, they need quality time in the form of attention and exercise, but the length and intensity of exercise may not be as great. Older dogs, for example, may prefer quiet walks to running or active play and will usually not pull you around on the leash or jump up on you.

Previous Training: Adult animals often already know how to live harmoniously with humans. In general, adult pets require far less supervision and less constant care, which can make them ideal companions for people with already busy lives. They may already be litter box or housetrained. An older dog might also have some obedience training.

Size at Maturity is Known: Senior animals, e.g., dogs, cats, small mammals, and some reptiles have already reached their maximum size and weight and therefore will not require additional purchases anticipating future growth needs. For instance, a senior dog, unlike a growing puppy needs only one size collar, harness, lead, dog bed, or travel crate.

What You See is What You Get: With adopted older pets you will usually know about any behavior challenges or health considerations before you adopt. In other words, there are no surprises.

Your donation goes to the expenses for our feral cat colony and foster cats and dogs' food, upkeep, and medical care. 100% of all donations go to the animals because there are no salaries or administrative fees. Thank you for your support!

Visit our message board for serious information gathering and decimination regarding animal health, advocacy, and rescue - cats, dogs, wildlife, and so much more. You will have to register, but it's FREE. We hope you will join us.