Have you been wanting to add a new family member to your crew? As fall turns to winter, now is an ideal time to adopt a senior pet. These gentle, older, life-weathered companions offer love and gratitude. They need a soft place to land during their golden years—and your home could be that perfect place.
Here’s why the team at Sky Canyon Animal Hospital encourages families to welcome senior pets into their lives.
1. Senior Pets Offer Peace and Calm
Puppies and kittens are a thrilling whirlwind, but they’re also a lot of work. Senior pets are the opposite. Older pets tend to be much more relaxed and low-energy than their youthful counterparts.
With older dogs, you won’t have to deal with chewed-up shoes or the infamous “zoomies.” Elderly cats are usually content with napping in a favorite puddle of sunlight—or quietly cuddling next to you on the sofa.
It sounds like a dream because it is dreamy.
2. No Training Needed
One of the most compelling reasons to adopt older pets is that many of them are already used to home life. Senior dogs are usually house trained, know basic commands, and can quickly get used to new routines.
Senior cats come litter-box trained and independent, giving you more time to bond over cozy evenings together.
Basically, with senior pets, you get to skip the toddler stage of life and head straight into the good stuff. In fact, if you have young children at home, an older pet can be a perfect counterpart to that youthful verve.
3. Get to Know Their Personalities Up Front
With puppies and kittens, personalities change and evolve over time. You can’t know what, exactly, a young animal will be like when you bring them home at two months old.
With an older pet, you know what type of personality you’re getting. Do you want a quiet, mellow feline companion who loves to warm your feet or lap? Or what about a dog that still likes to go out for a daily walk but is otherwise content to follow you around the house?
When you adopt a senior pet from a shelter, you can work with shelter staff to find the perfect senior dog for your lifestyle.
4. You Get to Change Their Life—And Yours
When you adopt a senior dog or cat, you are doing more than adding a new furry family member to your home. You are also saving the life of a precious soul and making room in the shelter for another pet in need.
Giving a senior pet a loving, comfortable home can bring you enormous personal joy and satisfaction, too.
It’s a win-win for everyone.
Veterinary Care for Senior Pets
Anytime you adopt a pet, it’s key to establish veterinary care right away. This is true for senior pets, too.
The caring team at Sky Canyon Animal Hospital is experienced in helping senior pets and their parents navigate the later years of life. With prevention and early treatment, many challenges of aging can be mitigated so you and your new friend can enjoy many years together.
Call our team at (951) 461-4100 to schedule an appointment for your senior pet today!