Adopt a Senior Dog Month: When Is It & How to Celebrate (Vet-Reviewed)

Adopt a Senior Dog Month, or Adopt a Senior Pet Month, is celebrated every year in November and is meant to remind people not only to adopt pets, rather than buy them from breeders or stores but also to consider senior dogs.

Senior dogs typically spend much longer in rescues with adopters favoring puppies and young dogs. Not only do older dogs find it more difficult to find new homes, but they also find their time in shelters more difficult than younger, more adaptable dogs.

Read on for more information about why you should consider adopting a senior dog as well as how you can mark the occasion.

When Is Adopt a Senior Dog Month?

Adopt a Senior Pet Month is celebrated every November. It is meant to remind potential pet owners to adopt rather than buy, and to consider adopting older or senior pets, not just puppies and kittens.

While most shelters have waiting lists and queues of people waiting for young animals, senior pets can end up stuck in rescues for months, or longer. Many of the dogs have been relinquished through no fault of their own, and if they aren’t adopted, they could spend the rest of their lives in shelters.

What You Can Do to Mark the Occasion

The obvious way to mark Adopt a Senior Dog Month is to adopt a senior dog. However, you should be sure that you have the time, the space, and the resources to do so. Otherwise, the dog you adopt will end up back in the shelter if you can’t give them what they need. Every time a dog goes back into a rescue, it will find it can create more uncertainty and anxiety.

If you can’t adopt a dog, for any reason, you can still help out. Share posts of senior dogs looking for loving homes, on social media. Visit the shelters and make donations or donate your time to help care for the dogs. Donate any toys, towels, dog food, or other useful items you have around the house that shelters might need.

Reasons to Adopt

We’re often encouraged to adopt, rather than buy, primarily because it means saving a life and discouraging potentially harmful breeding practices. There are also some personal benefits to the new owner.

1. You’re Saving a Life

You really could be saving a dog’s life when you adopt. Shelters are so full of stray and abandoned dogs that many have euthanization policies, which means some dogs are put to sleep. Adopting a dog prevents them from being euthanized.

2. You’re Freeing Up Space for Another Dog in Need

When you adopt a dog, it isn’t just the dog you adopt that you’re saving. Rescues have limited space and when they’re full, they can’t take any more dogs in. Adopting a dog from a rescue frees up space for the center to take in another dog.

3. Adoption Can Be Cheaper Than Buying

The cost of buying a dog varies according to the breed, breeder, and market. But the fees associated with buying a dog are typically higher than adoption fees, which can also vary but range from around $200 to $700. Because shelters find it so difficult to rehome senior dogs, some offer lower adoption fees for older dogs, too.

Most shelters ensure their dogs are spayed or neutered and have been microchipped before they leave, which means you don’t have to meet these costs, either.

Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog

Most people who are looking to adopt dogs are looking for puppies, or very young adult dogs, because they want to enjoy a full life with their new companions. But there are benefits to adopting a more senior pup.

1. Senior Dogs Typically Spend Longer in Shelters Before Being Adopted

The biggest advantage to adopting a senior dog over a puppy is the difference it makes for that dog. Senior dogs are considered less adoptable. This means that while puppies may only spend days in shelters before they get new homes, senior dogs can spend months or even years waiting for a new home.

2. They Might Be Trained Already

There is a belief that senior dogs in shelters are badly behaved or have behavioral issues and that is why they have ended up in the shelters. While it is true that some dogs might have training issues, most are, at least, house-trained. And many will have had at least basic training that will come to the fore when you get them home and start working with them.

3. Adult Dogs Are Easier Than Puppies

Puppies are adorable, but they can be very difficult to welcome into a new home. They need potty training, socialization, and you will have to go through basic training to prevent behaviors like jumping up, stealing, and more.

Most adult dogs have some idea of what is expected of them, and the shelter will be able to advise how well-trained their dogs seem to be.

Should You Adopt a Senior Dog?

Adopting a dog, and especially adopting a senior dog, is rewarding and it offers the dog a second chance of a good life. But adopting a senior dog isn’t the right choice for everybody.

Cost

Even though adopting is cheaper than buying, owning a dog does carry upfront and ongoing expenses that you will need to meet. This means buying equipment like beds, leashes, and potentially even crates. It can mean unexpected vet bills as well as the cost of general, ongoing veterinary health bills.

Check your budget to make sure you can afford to welcome a four-legged companion into your home.

Time

Dogs also require an investment of time. While your rescue dog might have gotten used to spending hours alone in the shelter, some can still suffer separation anxiety when they get a new home.

If you work all day, will you be able to get a dog walker in? Do you have a friend or family member who can help out when you’re not around? Do you have time to walk a new dog every morning and in the evenings?

Circumstances

Think twice before adopting if you live in rented accommodation as there’s a chance you will have to move out. Even if your current landlord accepts dogs, having a dog might make it more difficult to find a new place.

If you travel for work or go on long-distance journeys and won’t be able to take your dog with you, is it fair to leave them in boarding kennels or with somebody else whenever you go away?

How to Adopt a Senior Dog

Adoption procedures can vary a little at different shelters, but the general process is usually the same.

Visit a Shelter

There are shelters in most towns and cities, and a quick search online should yield a list of local rescues you can visit. As well as general rescues that take dogs of all breeds and types, you can also find breed-specific shelters, which can be especially appealing if you have experience with one breed.

Ask About the Dogs

When visiting the shelter, ask plenty of questions about the dogs you see. Shelter staff will be expecting, and should welcome, questions because they will want to ensure that you and your new dog are a good match to hopefully prevent the dog from being returned.

Find One That Matches Your Circumstances

Check whether the dogs are good with other animals and whether they have met any children while in the rescue’s care. A lot of shelters will do suitability checks to identify any resource guarding or other possible problems. Decide on a senior dog that matches your home and circumstances.

Start the Adoption Process

Most shelters perform house checks before they let somebody adopt a dog. They want to ensure that your home is suitable for the dog you’re adopting, and they will give advice regarding yard security and other improvements that you can make to give your new dog the best possible chance of a happy life.

If you pass the home check, you may be asked for a deposit, and a date or time will be set for you to collect the dog.

Conclusion

Senior dogs are usually the ones left behind in shelters, with most prospective adopters opting for young adults and puppies. Unfortunately, this can lead to senior dogs being euthanized because of the sheer number of dogs in centers.

Adopt A Senior Dog Month was established as a way of reminding potential owners that older dogs need loving homes and encouraging us not to overlook them when considering a new pup. If you’re able, finding and adopting a senior dog is the best way to mark the month, but you can also help by raising awareness for local shelters and their dogs or by donating money, goods, or your time.

Featured Image Credit: hedgehog94, Shutterstock