Adopting a Senior Pet Could Change Your Life
November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month!
A pet is a precious source of friendship and unconditional love, and caring for an animal is also beneficial for your health. Over the past 30 years, mounting scientific evidence reveals that pet ownership improves mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This is true for both children and adults. Adopting a senior pet offers many advantages over bringing a young animal into your home. Below are the benefits of animal ownership, and particularly, a senior pet.
Health Gains
Less Illness – A 10-month Cambridge University study found that pet owners acquire less frequent colds and headaches. Seniors age 65 and older have 30 percent fewer doctor visits than those without pets.
Reduced Stress – Playing with a pet boosts serotonin and dopamine, hormones that confer calmness. Grooming has a soothing effect, relieving anxiety by lowering the hormone cortisol.
Longevity – Interacting with a pet lowers blood pressure and heart rate. Research by the National Institutes of Health shows that pet ownership reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, factors that increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Heart attack survivors recover faster. The American Heart Association links pet ownership with greater longevity.
Mature Versus Young Pets
An animal is considered “senior” at age seven and older. Here are seven advantages of adopting a mature versus a young furry friend.
1. No surprises.
A senior animal is an open book, so to speak. They’ve achieved their full-grown size, and their temperament is established. You know what to expect regarding their behavior and care needs.
2. Less mess and monitoring.
A senior pet doesn’t require “potty training,” since they’re already housebroken. You won’t have chewing concerns. Adult animals are emotionally mature, so they won’t “act out” by shredding your household objects, such as furniture, bedding, and clothing.
3. Easier training.
Older animals have longer attention spans, making it simpler to teach them new behaviors.
4. More relaxation.
Senior pets don’t have wild energy. They’re more attentive than puppies and kittens and eager to please people. Adult animals have manners, courtesy of their years of socializing with people. Caring for adult pets requires less effort.
5. Suitability for children and seniors.
The milder disposition of an older animal makes them compatible with children. Some adult pets have lived with youngsters previously. They’re often gentle and tolerant, making them safe additions to the family. Veteran pets are also aligned with the energy level and lifestyle of seniors.
6. Loyal protection.
Senior pets can safeguard your home against vandalism and theft. They may also rescue lives.
A week after seven-year-old Barney was adopted, the dog saved the life of his autistic and diabetic owner. The boy had collapsed in front of his home and was lying on the sidewalk, unconscious. Barney woke up the child’s mother and led her to the front door. Lewis Baxter’s blood sugar level had become dangerously low. If Barney had not alerted Lewis’ mother, the boy could have died.
7. Instant bonding.
When an adult animal has lost their original family, they often experience deep grief. Upon adoption, the senior pet is typically so grateful for a home that it showers the new family with love. Mature pets quickly settle into their new surroundings, becoming instant companions, workout partners, or nighttime snuggle buddies.
Saving a Senior Pet
An adult animal may be homeless for several reasons:
death of an owner
a new move
job loss
a new baby
the novelty of getting a pet has worn off
When you adopt a senior animal, you rescue them from abandonment, loneliness, and possibly death. Approximately 36 percent of pets who enter shelters are eventually euthanized. Saving an innocent animal’s life is its own reward. Adopting a senior pet can change your life by improving your health, providing protection, offering companionship, and giving tremendous joy!
