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by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know pets of unknown age are often designated as seniors due to their appearance? Whether it has a grey muzzle, lack of teeth or muscle tone, vets and shelter staff are often left to guesstimate an age unless an actual birth date is available. Like humans, some pets look older than they really are and vice versa.
For our Seniors for Seniors adoption program, any human over the age of sixty can adopt a designated senior pet with the adoption fee waived. We offer this program to encourage less active senior people to adopt less active cats and dogs. Of course, not all people over the age of sixty are less active, but do they (we) have the energy to provide the kitten or puppy with all the exercise, socialization, training and interactive play that they need? And, unless there is longevity in the person’s bloodline, who will care for that pet in the future? Please do not count on your family because their lives change over the course of time and rarely are they able to take on the care of an elder’s pet.
Unfortunately, like many senior people some senior pets will have health issues and require daily medication such as treatable thyroid disease which is the most common, followed by joint supplements and prescription diets. Therefore, it is imperative that the senior person adopting the senior pet has the means and mobility to properly care for the pet, along with support from family and friends when needed.
Shelters end up with senior pets usually when their owner has passed away or can no longer care for them. And sometimes, they come to us as unclaimed strays. Like Paulina, a medium hair female tortoiseshell cat found wandering around a neighborhood in August of 2023. Upon intake she was emaciated and matted. And within a brief time, on thyroid medication and an appetite stimulant. As it turns out, she is a very picky eater. She’s not very fond of other cats and is basically a lounger. For over a year she has had to live in a cage with a window view, with a little attention, just waiting. Her life somewhere took a drastic turn to homelessness. She must have been a beautiful baby and a prima donna, and now its as if she’s in a nursing home.
Generally speaking, any animal within a few years of their expected lifespan is considered a senior. So for cats, its generally over 10 years and for dogs, depending on their weight, its over 8 years. Every shelter has its own set of criteria for senior age designation. Nevertheless, the benefits outweigh the length of time an adopted senior pet may be with you.
Senior pets require less supervision, are already housetrained, have set personalities, are less likely to be destructive and offer companionship and the reminder to slow down and enjoy life.
November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month!
Pet of the Week:
Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information.
