You’re ready to bring a new animal into your family, and maybe you can’t wait to raise a tiny, adorable puppy or kitten. For many families, a senior pet would be a perfect fit, though they’re often overlooked at shelters. You can even find a purebred pet from a breed-specific rescue.
1. Every senior has a story.
Some adoptable senior pets were adored by their previous families but had to be given up due to a myriad of reasons. When someone loses their job, has a kid with allergies, adopts a younger pet, or has to move to a pet-free residence, they may have no choice but to give up their pet. Some seniors may have belonged to elderly owners who have passed away. Others are rescued from backyard breeders, and some are found in the streets. There’s something sweet about an animal with a story. You can see it in their eyes when they lie next to you, finally safe and warm in a home of their own.
2. Many senior pets are already housetrained.
When you adopt a puppy, you can expect to spend a few months cleaning up accidents and waking up in the middle of the night to take them outside. It’s typically for senior pets to have already been trained for years, and will only need a few days to adjust to your household. Though some senior pets may have lived outside their entire lives, or their owners may have never trained them, their maturity allows them to pick up on ‘housetraining’ much faster than a puppy.
3. They tend to be low energy.
Senior pets are excellent for people who are disabled, work long hours, or otherwise can’t spend hours each day wearing out a young, energetic animal. Young kittens and puppies also tend to practice using their sharp teeth and nails as they play – ouch!
Many older animals spend most of the day sleeping, and will only need a brief play, a short training session, or a leisurely walk each day. Senior pets still need mental stimulation and can enjoy puzzle toys and training games to keep their mind sharp.
4. Because they’re just as cute as puppies and kittens.
Baby animals are adorable, but seniors are just as cute. Your senior pet will quickly become the star of your social media profiles, patiently posing for adorable snapshots while showing off that charming grey muzzle. Puppies and kittens tend to look indistinct, but most senior animals have scars, imperfections, and flaws that tell their story. You’re sure to fall in love at first sight.
5. What you see is what you get.
When you adopt a mixed-breed kitten or puppy, you can never be sure how big they will grow up to be. They also tend to go through fear phases and a rebellious adolescence, making their future behavior difficult to predict. A senior pet may also be known to be good with kids and other pets. Their foster owner or shelter caretaker will be able to tell you about their personality so you’ll have a pretty good idea of whether they’ll be a good match for your home.
6. They may have many years left.
A senior pet is not necessarily going to die in a few months, though you can certainly find animals in need of hospice care. A cat is considered a senior at age seven, and it isn’t uncommon for them to live to be 20 years old. A dog is a senior at age seven and can be expected to live to be 10 to 20 years old, depending on their size, breed and health conditions. You may want to invest in pet health insurance to make sure you will be able to easily afford to care for your pet in case of any emergencies or long-term conditions. This is a good idea whether you adopt a pet at 8 weeks or 8 years. In fact, you save on veterinary costs with a senior pet because they will likely already be fixed and will have had their core vaccinations.
Where To Adopt A Senior Pet In and Around Grand Prairie, Texas – 75050
Mini Mutts for dogs and cats rescued from euthanasia.
Angels Rescue of North Texas for dogs of all ages.
Grand Prairie Cat Crew for cats.
While you are here, don’t forget to visit the GO TO web page for people looking to adopt a pet in and around Grand Prairie/ DFW area: Grand Prairie Shelters And Rescues.
Do you know or represent any other ‘Pet Shelters and Rescues’ in and around Grand Prairie? Contact Us if you want to include YOUR organization on this page.
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