ADOPTING AN OLDER PET YIELDS MANY REWARDS

By Anita Greenberg,DVM. member of Old Bridge Township Council since 2016

Adopting an older pet can be very rewarding for you and the dog or cat. First and foremost, you saved lives, not only the pet you adopted, but simultaneously you created space in the shelter for another pet waiting to be adopted. Older pets in shelters are the first to be euthanized if they are not adopted in a timely manner. Consider the time you have to dedicate to a new pet and take into account the commitment and impact on your lifestyle. Be honest with yourself. While kittens and puppies are great, an older pet may be the best choice, saving you the need to kitten/puppy proof your house and avoiding housebreaking and litter box training. Older animals demand less and tend to give more. An older pet is less of a stress, usually less destructive and more placid. Somehow, once taken out of the shelter, the older pet even seems grateful to be adopted and seems to know they have been saved.

It does take time for the new pet to acclimate to new surroundings and routines. Developing a sense of safety and trust usually takes about a month. Cats need their quiet space and may hide for a while.

Seniors adopting seniors is a wonderful idea. Older pets are not only calmer, but with age comes wisdom. With older pets, it is easy to identify their personality and characteristics to match with yours and your lifestyle.

Older dogs have lower energy than younger dogs, are more relaxed and often come trained and housebroken. Also, they have their adult teeth, so the destructive chewing phase is in the past. A lot of training time and energy is spared. Older dogs have a much longer attention span then pups, and what you see is what you get. They can be easier and faster to teach. You can teach an old dog new tricks!