There are many reasons that senior dogs end up in shelters. Some of them were the pets of elderly people who died or had to move to an assisted living facility that won’t allow dogs and the extended family either won’t take the dog or there is no family to assume responsibility for the dog. Or, the dog has health issues the family doesn’t want to deal with or doesn’t have the financial means to do so. In other situations, there is a change is family situation such as a move, a divorce or the birth of a new baby and they decide they don’t want the burden of an old dog. 

Regardless of the reason why a poor old dog winds up in a shelter, one thing is clear: most of them were cherished companions at one time and they do not understand why they are no longer with their people.

Shelters are no place for senior dogs. Old dogs don’t fare well in shelter environments due to the trauma and stress.  And, seniors are much more difficult to adopt out than younger dogs.

 

What can you do? 

Here are some ideas for how you can do your part to keep seniors out of shelters:

• Adopt a senior dog from a shelter.
• Or, if you’re unable to adopt, consider fostering. In the case of senior dogs, fostering is an especially great option because in most instances, the rescue organization will cover the medical costs associated with taking care of a senior dog. They provide financial support and you provide the love and security the dog deserves!
• If adopting or fostering aren’t right for you, you could visit your local shelter and become a volunteer. Shelters do what they can to help the senior dogs in residence but volunteers are always welcome. You could walk dogs, or just hang out with them and let them know you care about them.
• Send a donation to a senior dog rescue. They depend on donations in order to be able to prevent senior dogs from having to go into a shelter, and to rescue senior dogs from shelters.