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Older
pets have all the love, no hassles
November
20, 2008
Along with Thanksgiving, November also marks Adopt-A-Senior-Pet
Month. Our older animal companions are the best of all worlds. Like
fine wine, good cheese and my mom's gumbo on the second day, they
grow better with age.
It's especially true when you adopt an older pet. Compared to
bringing home a new puppy or kitten and having to get the basics out
of the way, such as housebreaking and leash training, the first day
at home for a senior pet is simply about getting to know you and you
getting to know them.
I like to make the analogy that it's like entering a relationship
where both individuals are mature. There are no games and no
surprises.
You'll often find older adoptable pets at local animal shelters. And
it's a huge misconception that pets in shelters are there because
they've done something wrong. They are there as innocent victims of
circumstance. Many times at animal shelters you'll find older pets
who have been in a home, but their human companion died and no one
is available to care for them.
I'm reminded of Sarah, an 8-year-old beagle whose owner died last
year. Sarah entered the shelter with a much younger sibling, who was
adopted a few days later. The pain of having to see the pair
separated was unbearable, but LA/SPCA volunteers took up Sarah's
cause and were instrumental in helping her find a new home, where
she now lives with another beagle, 6-year-old Gidget. In a matter of
only a few weeks Gidget and Sarah became inseparable.
Sarah's new family put it best when describing what Sarah has
brought to them. "Since (we) welcomed Sarah into our lives, we have
found so much joy and life in her and ourselves," they wrote. I
couldn't have said it better.
-
Gloria Dauphin
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