A friend recently asked me if there was a way to adopt a senior dog, and my first instinct was to tell her just to go ahead and get one from a shelter. However, I thought about it a bit more, and I realized that if you have enough love, patience, and time in your heart and home to take on a senior dog, then there are other places you can go to look for a golden oldie to add to your family.
Let’s look at where you can find an older dog to adopt and love.
What Makes a Dog a Senior Adoption?
Dogs can live a long time; many will reach their teens, while others could even reach their early twenties. It’s all about genetics and your dog’s health. An old dog or senior pawster is a dog that’s more than half its potential age.
A senior dog can also be a dog that’s had a hard life and suffered declining health. In the world of pet adoption, where most people want a young dog or puppy, even a dog that’s only five years old can be seen as a senior adoption pet.
Where Older Dogs Come From and Why They Need Homes
Older dogs end up in shelters and at the pound for many reasons. It’s not always neglect, and it’s rarely (if ever) the dog’s fault. Senior dogs are up for adoption because:
- They’ve gone astray and can’t find their home or owners.
- Senior citizens must give up their dogs when they enter nursing homes, which can lead to the dogs running away from new homes (and probably looking for their owners).
- Some families have to get rid of an older dog when they move to a smaller property that’s not pet-friendly or when they move abroad, and taking a pet is too expensive or not possible for other reasons.
- Dog owners may also surrender their dogs to shelters if they can’t afford to keep them, don’t want to have them euthanized if they’re older, or struggle to tend to their needs.
- Service animals may also be up for adoption after their human handlers have passed or moved away.
Places to Look for a Senior Dog to Adopt
While it’s always best to support a local animal shelter and adopt an elderly dog there, you can also look for other places where you may find your future bestie:
Retirement Homes and Charities
Those who are no longer able to live independently may need to place their older pooch up for adoption. Elderly people have no choice and often have to let their older dog go to a shelter in the hopes of adoption if they don’t want to choose an end-of-life option.
Imagine these people’s gratitude, knowing you can give their beloved dog a chance at life. Just because someone has fallen on hard times and can’t look after their aging pet doesn’t mean they have to put it to sleep. They’ll be so grateful if you can help, adopt, or foster their oldie.
Vets
Your local vet may be an excellent place to leave your name and number if you want to take on an older dog. People sometimes choose to euthanize their dogs when they can no longer care for them, which is how you may find a much-loved bestie to become your bestie.
Municipal Pounds and Shelters
If your area has several dog shelters and pounds, you can also find an older dog to adopt there. Older dogs are sometimes cast aside, which is how they end up at shelters and pounds. These institutions would be very grateful if you’d adopt an older dog.
Classified Listings
People may also advertise a loved pet that’s up for adoption. So keep an eye on local classified listings, Facebook groups, marketplaces, and even notice boards in your local shopping or community centers.
Your Police Force
Yip, even a highly trained K9 may need a home to retire to, whether due to old age or injury. In most instances, the human officer will adopt their K9 partner, but they may not have the means or ability to do so. You can offer Sergeant Woof a lovely home to live out their last days in peace.
Out of Your Local Area
Perhaps you live in a relatively remote area, and there aren’t as many shelters or retirement villages near you, in which case, you may not see any elderly dogs to adopt. If so, consider drawing your net bigger.
Consider looking in the next town or nearby city. You may also include breeders in your area. Breeders often have older dogs that are no longer at the top of their game for producing winning puppies, and they’d be happy to rehome one of their breeding dogs (usually a female dog).
Other Places to Consider
It’s never ideal to just take a dog off the street, and in some areas, it’s illegal to do so, but you can help local shelters keep an eye out for older pets that have ended up on the curb. Whether you adopt or foster these pets, you still share your home and love with them.
Should you take a dog from the street, it’s advisable to inform a local shelter and the local vets that the dog is in your care. They will advise you of the best steps to ensure you and your new bestie don’t face criminal charges.
More Jack’s Dacks Articles
- Tips For a Young Dog and a Senior Dog
- 5 Dog Hiking Backpacks for Trail Buddies—Leave No Dog Behind
- 18 Signs of Aging in Dogs and What to Do in Each Case
Final Home Checks
An older dog is such a blessing, and I love my seniors. They develop a quirky sense of humor that’s so uniquely “them,” and I’d never consider parting with them until they need a final helping hand to leave any physical pain behind.
However, you should only consider adopting older dogs if you have the time, space, and patience to help them transition into a new home. Senior dogs often experience trauma from being abandoned and may have a strong instinct to search for their original person. A thoroughly closed yard or home with structured routines is a must to help them face anxieties.
So go ahead, open your heart, and fill theirs with love.