Why you shouldn’t be afraid to open your heart to a senior dog, even if their love is short-lived.

“We were grieving the loss of our beloved Great Dane, Astroboy, and were initially very hesitant about adopting this 10-year-old senior greyhound, fearing that we would not have him for long,” says senior dog adopter, Russell. 
 
“As it turned out, Fred (now Henry) has been an absolute delight to be with. And while puppies are a cute bundle of chaos, the joy, thankfulness and love an older dog brings is so very precious.”

Here are six reasons why we, and adopter Russell, wholeheartedly recommend adopting an older dog. 

All they want is someone to love and be loved

When dogs find themselves homeless in their senior years, they have the least time to waste and the most love to give. They’ve learned the value of human companionship, they’ve spent years honing their skills in winning human affection, and all they want is a new best friend to devote their love to for the rest of their days.

The adoption fees are very affordable

Adoption fees for older dogs are often reduced to help them find a home as quickly as possible, and the reduced fee includes health checks, desexing, vaccinations, worming and flea treatment too.

They’re usually pretty easy-going and fit into your lifestyle

Most senior rescues have been house pets in the past and already have basic training and good manners. Compared to an attention-seeking puppy, an adopted older dog is likely to be content being home alone – the ideal fur kid for someone who has an active lifestyle or older creatures of habit who like to take things easy and stick to a structured routine.

They make perfect couch potato cuddle buddies

They’re all about the cuddles and not so much bothered about the hard cardio workout that a younger dog might demand. So, if you lead a pretty relaxed lifestyle, a senior dog could make the perfect companion to share snuggles on the couch with!

But they still have playful puppy moments without all the puppy chaos

“In spite of his age, Henry has actually grown younger in the time we’ve had him! He progressively grows more lively, more affectionate, and more keen to go out for drives and walks every day,” says Russell.

And they can still learn new tricks!

They have all the wisdom that a long life brings, but they can still be inquisitive in nature. With plenty of patience, love and treats, senior dogs will adapt well to their new life and will always be eager to learn, love, and please you.

Are you ready to adopt a senior dog? Here’s how to start your search

Click this link to view the list of senior dogs currently available for adoption on PetRescue. Select your state. Enter your postcode. Select your gender and size preferences and use the filters to enter basic info about your home. Best of luck finding an older new best friend.

Can’t adopt? Here’s how you can help

You can give a senior pet just like Henry the best chance of finding the love of a new home and the care they deserve for the rest of their days. Your kind gift gives them a place on PetRescue, bringing them face-to-face with thousands of potential adopters each day, helping them find their new home quickly.