Adopting a senior dog is such a gift, both to the dog and the adopting family. Choosing a senior dog (at Marty’s Place Sanctuary, a senior is seven years old and beyond) means you are getting a new family member that already has memories, habits, preferences, and possibly some fears or sadness. Some may have lost their longtime home and family lives because their owners passed away or they could no longer care for them. Others may have been abandoned or come from an animal shelter. No matter the background, there will be past experiences that have shaped his behavior, health, and comfort level. This doesn’t mean that “old dogs can’t learn new tricks,” but it does mean you’ll need to have patience, empathy, and compassion as your new family member adjusts to being home with you. But, since you’re a dog person, you already have an abundance of these qualities! And senior dogs will show you all of these things and so much more.
Henry from our sanctuary volunteered to be the subject of this article so we’ll call the senior dog, “he.” Here is sweet little Henry, so you can picture him while you read this. And Henry is right – all you need is love…and a dog!
Photo credit: Sandra Mecca
If you are ready to find your new furry family member, there are some things to think about before making the commitment. Let’s start with a few good questions to ask about the dog you are hoping to adopt.
Nutrition
You’ll need an understanding of his specific nutritional requirements. Senior dogs have different needs than puppies with types and quantities of foods. They also may have specific health concerns that require special food (such as a kidney-specific diet). Ask your vet for help in determining what he needs to keep him feeling his best and healthy.
Health conditions
Learning about his pre-existing health conditions and/or medications is important. This could mean more vet visits, a medication schedule, help with mobility, and other specialized care plans that you should be prepared for.
Type of environment
While this is true for dogs of any age, you’ll want to know what type of environment he is used to and comfortable with. Does he need a quiet home without a lot of people coming and going? Is it hard for him to go up and down stairs? It’s important to know what accommodations he may need before you adopt so you can be prepared to make him feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
Socialization
When adopting a senior dog, he will most likely already be accustomed to certain situations, schedules, and behaviors. You’ll want to ask if the dog is good with other dogs, cats, and children. Is there any part of his personality that you should be aware of like separation anxiety, food aggression, or leash manners? What about his favorite things like toys, blankets, and treats? Does he prefer to cuddle up next to you or have his own space? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you create a comforting environment for him right from the start.
Now that you’ve asked the questions about the dog, here are some questions you need to ask yourself.
Time
Are you willing to commit the time needed to care for a senior dog? If you are out of the house for long periods, do you have someone who can come to let him out, feed, and socialize with him?
Finances
The chance of dogs having health issues increases with age. Will you be able to financially handle potentially large or recurring vet bills?
Are you ready for ALL the good things?
And the best and most important question is…are you ready to experience years of love, fun, and joy? While the questions above mostly prepare you to address possible challenges, there are so many benefits of adopting a senior dog.
Dogs at all stages have different requirements, but senior dogs are usually less demanding than puppies. They’ll come already trained which will make the adjustment much easier when bringing one into your home. A senior dog can have a milder and calmer disposition, but will still bring his own playfulness, spark, and sass.
The love and gratitude you receive from your senior dog will be invaluable. You will be the one to make him feel loved, safe, healthy, and comfortable in his golden years. You will become his world and be with him in his most vulnerable moments. There is no better feeling than knowing you are changing his life for the better.
If you are ready to adopt a senior dog, look no FUR-ther than Marty’s Place! Our adoption and lifelong foster program enable us to save the lives of more dogs by finding homes where they can receive the degree of love and quality care that they need and deserve. By adopting one of our dogs, not only will you be saving a senior pet in need, you’ll be freeing up space in our sanctuary for another pet ready to find a new home.
As we say at Marty’s Place, “You’re never too old for a new best friend.”
Learn more about our Adoption Program: https://martysplace.org/adoption-program/
Learn more about our Lifelong Foster Program: https://martysplace.org/foster/
If you have any questions about adopting or fostering from Marty’s Place, please contact us at (609) 259-1278 or info@martysplace.org.
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