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Editorial
Our pets give us so much and all they ask for in return is a safe place to live, some food in their bowls and the occasional belly rub. You cannot put a price on their companionship. Even though they do not have the words to express their love for us, they manage to convey their affection in so many demonstrative and sometimes slobbery ways.
There is a reason that pictures of kittens and puppies are frequently featured in wall calendars and posters - they are completely adorable. Everyone loves how cute and sweet they are. And when puppies and kittens are available for adoption at shelters, they are often the only pets people want to see or even consider adopting. This is a shame, as an older cat or dog in a shelter might be just the pet to make a home complete.
There are many advantages to adopting an adult pet. Kennel attendants at a shelter can tell you all about the personality of an older cat or dog. They can also tell you what the cat or dog is like around children or other pets, about any history of aggressiveness or behavioral issues. If the pet has been at the shelter for a while, they often know what their favorite treats are and what toys they like to play with.
Kittens and puppies also need a lot of supervision. Unlike human babies, at only a few weeks of age, kittens are little bursts of energy, and it seems like they are capable of being in several different places at once. Puppies, too, require a lot of attention. Everything to a puppy is a chew toy, whether it be a shoe, a cardboard box or a couch cushion.
Older cats are more creatures of leisure than their young counterparts. While they may take time to explore a new home, once they know where the food, water and the litter boxes are, they usually adapt pretty quickly to their surroundings. Older dogs will not have to be house trained and they will usually not need to be let out in the middle of the night for bathroom visits. They may still have the need to chew on things in the house, but that behavior can be managed by offering them alternatives.
The problem that many shelters have been facing post-pandemic is an overpopulation of older dogs in their kennels. Sometimes dogs do not represent themselves well in a kennel setting, often barking loudly in unison with their kennel mates. It is best when considering adopting an older dog to request a one-on-one visit. Isolated from the chaos of the kennels, dogs can display their unique temperament.
When adopting an older pet, one must consider the costs. Just like humans, as animals age, they require more medical care. There is health insurance available for cats and dogs and some of our local clinics even have their own health care plans. Food for cats and dogs is expensive, so sharp-eyed shoppers should look for sales on pet food and stock up.
But someone who brings home a new cat or dog from a shelter is probably not thinking about the cost of a pet when memories are being made, like that first cool night of autumn when there’s a fire in the hearth and a cat snuggled in their lap. Or when a dog nuzzles its new human companion with an appreciative snout when given treats or after an especially long walk.
When you adopt an older cat or dog, you are not just giving them a new home – you are giving them a new life, and by extension, enhancing your own existence.
