It’s always a good time to give a
pet a loving home. Now that it’s “Adopt a Senior Pet Month,” however,
you have another great reason to seek out full-grown dogs or cats in
local animal shelters. Puppies or kittens may be cuter, but the list of
advantages of adopting an older pet is as long as
Keon the Irish Wolfhound’s tail.
You get the size of pet you want
 |
|
© Pexels / Pixabay
|
While dog breeds provide general guidelines for how large a puppy will grow, surprises do happen. If you have a very specific idea of the size of dog you’d like in your life, a full-grown canine is the way to go.
You get the colour and coat you want
 |
|
© Tobi Berger / Pixabay
|
The coats of puppies and kittens have been known to change shade or colour as the pets get older, and can also become longer, shorter or ‘sheddier’ than expected. You can control these variables simply by adopting a senior pet.
You get the demeanour you want
 |
|
© Pexels / Pixabay
|
Sadly, adolescent puppies are often surrendered to animal shelters because they grow to be more boisterous than expected. Adopting a senior pet takes away behavioural guesswork and helps ensure a good match.
Proven health history
 |
|
© Wolfgang Horvath / Pixabay
|
Few things are more upsetting, not to mention costly, than a dog or cat that develops health problems early in life. Older pets, on the other hand, have a proven track record of healthiness.
Medical costs already covered
 |
|
© David Mark / Pixabay
|
Many older pets have been spayed or neutered and have their
vaccinations up to date. This saves owners from having to cover these
expenses.
Less appetite for destruction
 |
|
© James Homans / Unsplash
|
Like human children, puppies and kittens tend to be full of energy, and sometimes that energy is released by innocently destroying furniture, clothing and other items. Older pets, however, have usually outgrown the urge to chew shoes or climb curtains.
They are already house-trained
 |
|
© Shutterstock
|
Training a dog or cat to do its business in an acceptable manner can be an arduous and seemingly endless task. An older animal, on the other hand, may already be house-trained.
They are better with children
 |
|
© Westfale / Pixabay
|
It can be hard to know how a puppy or kitten will behave around children, and how they will deal with kids as both get older. A pet that has already lived in a household with youngsters is simply more predictable.
They follow commands
 |
|
© skeeze / Pixabay
|
Older dogs may already have received obedience training. That way, commands like “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Down” won’t have to be learned, often at considerable cost and frustration.
Easier to train
 |
|
© Katrin B. / Pixabay
|
Turns out old dogs can learn new tricks. In fact, it is often easier to train a more mature and calmer animal and teach them new commands.
Less stress
 |
|
© Cat Mapper (Max Ogden) / Unsplash
|
Constantly supervising a puppy or kitten can be stressful and time-consuming. An older pet, on the other hand, may already know the ropes when it comes to living in harmony with people, cars and other hazards.
Relaxed companionship
 |
|
© Sven Lachmann / Pixabay
|
Likewise, older animals tend to prefer mellower activities like napping or sitting with their owner, and are typically easier to manage on walks.
13- Gratitude to spare
 |
|
© Shutterstock
|
Being an older pet’s best friend is especially easy, given that adoptive owners provide the kind of comfortable, loving home a busy, crowded shelter does not.
Loyalty to spare
 |
|
© Pexels / Pixabay
|
Gratitude often manifests itself in displays of canine loyalty that puppies simply cannot match. Owners and senior pets tend to form close bonds quickly owing to the high level of devotion the new pets display.
A feeling of pride
 |
|
© Yama Zsuzsanna Márkus / Pixabay
|
Because it can be harder to find a home for an older pet, stepping up and providing one is a good deed anyone should feel proud of.
Suitable for seniors
 |
|
© Paul Hanaoka / Unsplash
|
Older, calmer pets tend to be more manageable for older people, who often appreciate the companionship and comforting presence of these more mature animals.
They’ll fit in with pets you already have
 |
|
© Mabel Amber / Pixabay
|
Older dogs or cats may have already lived with other dogs or cats, which makes them more likely to get along with pets you may already have.
Pay less for purebreds
 |
|
© Free-Photos / Pixabay
|
Purebred puppies are costly, but full-grown purebreds found at a shelter cost nothing or next to nothing.
Shorter-term commitment
 |
|
© Orna Wachman / Pixabay
|
A puppy or kitten may mean a 20-year commitment. A senior dog or cat won’t live as long, which may suit an owner who doesn’t expect to stay put for that long, or an elderly person who is unsure about their long-term living situation.
A home for the holidays
 |
|
© Patricia Alexandre / Pixabay
|
As we head into the holidays, helping to ensure that one fewer animal spends the season in a shelter is a great way to embrace the spirit of giving.
