November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month. Senior pets offer so much joy and companionship, but often get overlooked for their younger counterparts and many have to be euthanized when they don’t find their forever homes. While having a pet of any age comes with both benefits and challenges, we hope you’ll consider adopting a senior pet after reading this.

What is considered a senior dog? According to the American Animal Hospital Association’s guidelines, a pet is in their “senior” years when they’ve reached the last 25% of their life expectancy. For example, a Golden Retriever is a senior around 8 years old, but a Chihuahua is a senior around 11 years old. However, even by these guidelines, seniors and their energy/activity levels may vary.

When you adopt a senior pet, they are extremely appreciative. They seem to know how lucky they are to have a home. It might not take them as much time to get comfortable and show you their love and gratitude.

You know what you’re getting. There are no surprises as to how big your dog will be. Since senior pets have set personalities and probably lived with humans before, you have a good idea of how they’ll act prior to taking them home. You’ll also know their grooming needs.

Most senior pets are already trained. There’s a high probability that you won’t have to worry about destructive behavior or potty training. They’ll also know some basic commands. If your senior pet does require training, they might be easier to train due to better attention span.

They might be a perfect fit for your life. If you are a senior or have a busy lifestyle, a senior pet might be just what you need. They can be content laying on the couch all day and won’t require as much exercise. They also don’t demand as much attention as younger pets. You may have to move a little slower on walks, but that could be just what you need.

Adopting one can be easier. Puppies and kitties tend to receive more applications, so you’ll have a better chance of being approved for a senior. Your senior pet will most likely be spayed/neutered, have their vaccinations, and adoption costs are typically lower.

You’ll feel great knowing you were able to provide a loving home for a pet during their golden years. Adoption in general is very admirable, but when you factor in the older age that makes it even more amazing. Some senior pets have been at shelters for years and others may have recently lost their humans. No pet deserves to spend their years in a shelter (or worse, euthanized), so we commend you for choosing a senior pet.

Let us know in the comments if you have a senior pet!