Adopt a Senior Pet Month 2026: When It Is & How to Participate
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View 1 More +While most pet owners have started to adopt, not shop, most people are quicker to bring home a rescue puppy or kitten than a senior pet. These pets end up in shelters for various reasons after spending most of their lives with a family, but regrettably, they often don’t find new homes.
To raise awareness about the benefits of bringing home an older dog or cat, November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Learn more about Adopt a Senior Pet Month and how you can celebrate.
What Is Adopt a Senior Pet Month?
Adopt a Senior Pet Month was created by the ASPCA and Petfinder.com to remind people of the benefits of adopting older pets.1, 2 Often, these dogs and cats end up in shelters through no fault of their own. Their owners may have passed away, fallen ill, or moved. Sometimes, senior pets are surrendered to shelters when they develop medical problems that their owners can no longer afford to treat.
These pets have a much harder time finding homes. Prospective owners may be concerned about health problems or may not want to bring home an older pet that may not live very long, leaving these dogs and cats to spend their golden years in a shelter rather than snuggled up with a loving family.
Adopt a Pet Month reminds people of the benefits of opening their homes to seniors, including:
How to Celebrate Adopt a Senior Pet Month
Want to do your part for Adopt a Senior Pet Month? Here are some ideas:
- Share senior pets from your local shelters on Facebook and X with the hashtag #PFseniorpets to encourage adoption.
- Post a photo of your senior pet and tell everyone why they’re the best.
- Share senior pet Happy Tail success stories.
- Educate others on the benefits of bringing home a senior pet.
- Bring home a senior pet of your own.
Conclusion
If you have room in your heart and home, and the ability to meet their medical, nutritional, and emotional needs, bringing home a senior dog or cat for Adopt a Senior Pet Month is the ultimate way to celebrate the holiday. These dogs and cats deserve to spend their golden years safe, comfortable, and loved. Adopting a senior pet makes a world of difference for them and you, too.
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Featured Image Credit: Lena Ivanova, Shutterstock
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Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
