October 24th

By Mutt Mulligan

TurfMutt’s top 5 reasons to adopt a senior pet

TurfMutt’s senior sister, Dottie, has inspired him to support Petfinder’s “Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month” in November. As TurfMutt has learned from his involvement on the hit TV show Lucky Dog, older dogs are often overlooked by prospective pet parents. That means longer stays in the shelter or worse. Senior pets (those about seven years and up, depending on their size) end up at the shelter for many heartbreaking reasons, including an owner’s death, a move, or changes to the family dynamic.

Dottie is a senior dog who was rescued from a Los Angeles, California shelter and featured on Lucky Dog. TurfMutt’s human friend, Kris Kiser, President & CEO of OPEI, adopted her. Dottie is the oldest dog ever adopted in the history of Lucky Dog! (Watch Dottie’s story here.)

Here are the top five reasons TurfMutt and Kiser say senior pets like Dottie are top dogs.

• No trying puppy stages. Sure, puppies are cute, but they are also a ton of work! Older dogs have already outgrown their exhausting puppy phases and have shed their bad habits like chewing on furniture, accidents in the house and 3 a.m. wake-up calls.
• You know what you’re getting. Unlike with a puppy, an older dog has already developed her personality, so it’s easier to tell if she will make a good fit for your family. No surprises about size, coat length or energy level – what you see is what you get!
• You can teach an old dog new tricks. Most dogs are highly adaptable – especially older ones. Contrary to the popular saying, older dogs can learn new behaviors and will want to acclimate to your way of doing things.
• Most know basic commands. Most older dogs already know basic commands like sit and how to walk politely on a leash. Also, potty training has already been mastered by dogs in their twilight years, meaning you can focus on the fun stuff like walks in the park and road trips.
• Senior dogs have lots of love to give. Older dogs are just as lovable as puppies, they just need someone to give them a chance. By adopting a senior pet, you are literally saving a life. Older dogs seem to sense that and repay you with tons of love and gratitude.

Not in the market for a new pet? You can still support Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month. Speak up for senior pets on social media and in person to make sure your friends and family who might be adopting soon know the benefits of rescuing an older dog that makes a great companion. You can also share your personal experience with your older dog and help shine a spotlight on these seniors who need our help.