November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month. We love seeing older pets getting second chances! Dogs and cats in their golden years often have a very hard time getting adopted. That’s very sad, because they make absolutely wonderful pets. A local Sherman Oaks, CA vet lists some reasons why in this article.
No Surprises
When you adopt a puppy or kitten, there’s really just no way to know for sure what they will look or act like as an adult. With many dogs, you also have to wonder about how big Fido will get. Given that it can be hard to rent or even buy some homes when you have a bigger dog, your pet’s size can become pretty significant. There’s no guesswork or surprises with senior pets.
Less Training
Another bonus of getting a furry retiree? Fido is most likely going to be housetrained already. He’s likely also familiar with basic doggy obedience commands, and know what it takes to be a good boy. As for Fluffy, well, senior cats are experts at napping, meditating, using litterboxes, and all of the other requisite kitty behaviors.
Make A Forever Friend
Older pets end up in shelters for many reasons, many of which are very sad. Sometimes an owner dies or becomes unable to care for themselves. In other cases, the owner may have had to move into a home or facility that does not allow pets. Senior pets are also sometimes surrendered due to financial trouble or other difficulties. Unfortunately, some of them are abandoned by callous owners, often after a lifetime of friendship and loyalty, because their humans are now more interested in puppies or kittens. No matter what the cause, it is always very scary and traumatizing for the pet, who won’t understand what happened. Unsurprisingly, senior pets get very lonely and depressed in shelters. That one person who rescues them often immediately becomes the apple of their eye.
Love And Cuddles
Senior pets are just as fun, sweet, lovable, and cuddly as their younger counterparts. Many senior kitties just want to be petted and cuddled. An older dog may be perfectly happy peacefully snoozing at your feet or following you around. Purrs and tail wags from these guys are absolutely precious!
Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Contact us, your local Sherman Oaks, CA animal clinic, today!
