July 22, 2022
Reading Time 4 min.

Pet Adoption for Seniors? Here's What You Need to Know

Pets are, no doubt, great companions. They're a source of companionship and comfort that benefits many individuals.

In our previous blog post, we talked about the benefits of having pets for the elderly. 

We also discussed how it can help reduce stress, prevent loneliness, and improve overall health, especially for our seniors.

Now the next question is, should you buy one? Or is pet adoption for seniors the way to go?

So today, we'll look at some of the best places to consider pet adoption for seniors.

Let's get started.

Is it better to adopt than shop? 

There are many ways to get the best pets for seniors. You can buy from great pet breeders or pet stores.

But while these stores or breeders treat their pets well, it's recommended that seniors adopt instead of buying one for a few reasons.

It can be quite expensive to get new pets, so this is a factor you need to consider. 

Adopting pets can leave seniors with more for spending on essentials like dog food, bedding, or toys.

Most rescue groups and animal shelters also have many healthy animals. And most of them are already neutered and vaccinated. This makes the animal shelter's fee a bargain.

Shelters also have more mixed-breed pets than purebred ones. Mixed-breed pets are less likely to have genetic problems, reducing medical pet visit costs.

Most pets from shelters have already been potty trained and have obedience training. This can make it less work for seniors. 

pet adoption for seniors

Employees from the animal shelter also often know each animal's personality well and can help make a good match for seniors. 

Seniors can choose pets who are very protective and alert, especially if they live alone and need extra security.

Less active pets are ideal for seniors with physical and mobility difficulties. They're calmer and gentler, and they're often low maintenance.  

Can senior citizens become foster paw parents? 

Owning pets is pretty much like having kids. It takes a lot of commitment. 

And for some seniors, it can also be too much commitment to own a pet. A great alternative is to care for pets until they find their forever homes. 

And so, this is where fostering a paw pet becomes an ideal situation for them.

There are no fees when one fosters pets, unlike adoption. Most animal shelters help foster pet parents with the costs like food, crates, leashes, and even veterinary expenses.

Pets get to stay with foster “paw-rents” for at least two months. The duration can change depending on the breed and age of the pets. 

What makes it perfect? Fostering pets means you can share your time and energy with the pets. 

Sometimes the elderly also get matched with senior pets. Older pets often don’t have the excessive energy a puppy would. But they still provide the affection and companionship that most elderly need. 

If it’s not a good match, the shelters can find a better one that your elder loved ones can foster. 

Who knows, they might end up with one they can manage and eventually adopt. 

How to find and adopt pets for the elderly 

There are several ways to choose the shelter from which you can get your pets.

The good news is there are plenty of pet adoption websites where you can find them, without having to physically pick them out.

But before you do, here are some questions you need to ask. 

  • Do your seniors follow a strict routine or schedule? If they do, how well do they adapt to sudden changes in routine? 
  • Does the senior have any mobility issues?
  • What age pet would be best for them?
  • What pet temperament would be a good match for them?
  • Will having a pet be an issue with the elder’s finances? 

If you have a positive answer to these questions, then it would be wise to get the elder a pet. 

pet adoption websites

Now the next question is, where can you find and process pet adoptions for seniors? Here are some websites you can check out. 

Petfinder

Petfinder is a website that helps people find all kinds of pets, from dogs and cats to horses, rabbits, and pigs. 

You can narrow your search for a pet by age, organization, and traits and get a lot of information about how to train and care for it.

Adopt-a-Pet

This non-profit site has information about pets from over 17,000 shelters and rescues in North America.

The website is easy to use, and you can sort by location, age, and breed on the site. You can even use the Rehome program to find a home for your pet if you need to.

PetSmart Charities

PetSmart Charities let you narrow your search by zip code, breed, and age like most other websites for adopting pets. 

Once you find the one you want to adopt, contact the shelter or rescue group directly and start the process with them.  

Best Friends Animal Society

This website was first launched in the 1980s and has since expanded across the country. From Los Angeles to New York City, and Atlanta. And almost everywhere in between.

Their mission is to save all pets by ending all killings of these homeless animals.

ASPCA

If you live in Atlanta, you can use ASPCA's local adoption centers to find pets to adopt near those cities.

And even if you don’t live near ASPCA’s location, you can still use the site's local shelter portal to find all the animals in your area available for adoption.

Final thoughts 

Choosing where to process pet adoption for seniors is just as important as deciding which pets to bring home.

It's best to find those with an excellent reputation and those who are transparent about how they work with animals.

The key is to find the right pets that match best with your loved ones so they can also experience a better quality of life. 

What’s your experience with adopting pets for seniors? Let us know in the comments below.

That's all for today.

Take care, keep mom safe and have a great day!

Winn

Articles of Interest:

  1. PETS FOR SENIORS: HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOUR MOM
  2. HOME SAFETY FOR THE ELDERLY: TOP TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS
  3. THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES THAT BOOST THE MORALE OF THE ELDERLY
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