Special Adopters Needed.

"He seemed neither old nor young. His strength lay in his eyes. They looked as old as the hills, and as young and as wild. I never tired looking into them." John Muir, An Adventure with a Dog

“I love dogs too much.  I can’t handle adopting an older dog because I couldn’t handle losing them so soon.” 

This is, pure and simple, a myth.  The truth is, some people do not have the courage to think of the dogs first and themselves second.  While taking on a senior dog is not for everyone, there are real animal lovers who really care about all the dogs, including the seniors. Those people have the special daring to give more than they take. 

Adopting a senior dog offers rewards that will surprise many people.  Dogs that have experienced a great loss, such as their secure home, will likely be so grateful to an adopter that they will be more devoted and show more love and loyalty than a younger dog that has not experienced any “tragedies”. For dogs who have come into rescue from an unpleasant situation where they were never valued as part of a family, adopting a senior dog gives you the opportunity to make the last years of a dog’s life the best ones he or she has known.

Also, the average life span is not just increasing in the human population but companion pets are living longer.  With the increase in awareness and availability of wellness/preventative medical care, our pets are healthier and are living longer.  So the excuse that they will not live long enough just doesn’t wash anymore.  Yet some health problems are unforeseeable and even young dogs can be stricken with serious illnesses.  There is no guarantee of anyone or anything living past tomorrow and no dog lives long enough. 

Animal Placement Bureau has a special soft spot for the senior dogs.  Since they are usually the first to be euthanized in a shelter, we feel they have earned the right to a home environment for their last days rather than a kennel.  Young dogs also deserve this but they have a much better chance of being adopted than the aged dogs.  If you are willing to add a senior dog to your household, you will help create foster space in our program to rescue another senior dog, and you will have saved a life!

Back to the Senior Page