Overlooked and undervalued: adopt a super senior pet

According to my Benny, age is a state of mind. Look at him, jumping his "Tigger" jumps at every squirrel in sight. I tire of the "light and ball" game before he does. And he still leaps into the water at Fleet with the same joy he did 7 years ago, when I first brought him there at 6 months old. So who's to say that a "Senior" dog is any dog over the age of 7? Not me! Not Benny!

And not any of the pups you'll find at Senior Houndsabound. I recently spoke with Wendie Prince, who founded the rescue 2 years ago. In general, kill-shelters euthanize older dogs much more quickly than their younger counterparts. In fact, if the pet is an owner-turn in, it could be the same day it's walked through the door.

Think about your own family pet. At 7 years old, it's in the prime of life. That's seven years of smarts; they know furniture and shoes are not chewtoys. They have settled down and know the routine of living with their humans, yet can adapt quickly to changes. They don't have crazy energy, but still love chasing a ball or Frisbee. They don't need as much space to run around like their younger counterparts. But remember to keep their brain engaged - it goes a long way to keeping their hearts young.

All they want is love, food and a place to sleep. As far as their diet needs, Wendie finds some additional supplements go a long way to making them superseniors. She incorporates glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oils and flaxseed oils into their diets. She also adds some turkey juice in their food, along with the cooked meat and organs, making it a tasty meal that's easily chewed for dogs with dental concerns.

Which leads me to the most important thing: maintaining Good Dental Hygiene! Your dentist will tell you that if you don't take care of your teeth, you'll find aches, pains and infections popping up throughout your body. Why wouldn't it be the same in a dog? So brush brush brush. Make it a bonding time, with a tasty reward or some one-on-one playtime at the end.

I understand why people are hesitant about adopting an older dog. The sense of loss when you lose your pet is profound. Many people are afraid of undergoing that experience. But the few years of love you have when you open your home to a wonderful, deserving older dog far outweigh the price. Older dogs show their gratitude all day, every day. The companionship and love you get back is priceless. They would rather find a warm place in the sun to take a snooze then to challenge a younger dog for pack domination. Their routine: Wake up. Eat breakfast. After-breakfast nap. Sniff around. Mid-morning nap. Lunch-time. Post-lunch nap. You get the idea.

Abandonment of older dogs happens every day - forced to live out their final days on the cold cement floor of a shelter. The sooner the human race stops treating our animals as disposable items, the better off we'll all be.

Another excellent website to learn about the joy of adopting an older dog is the Grey Muzzle Organization.

In the meantime, if I've convinced you to add an older dog to your home, here are a few from Senior Houndsabound to check out! Wendie prefers adopting out her hounds (beagles and bassets) to those folks who are familiar with their houndish needs. Hounds love being in the company of other dogs.  You can reach Wendie at houndsabound@att.net, to find out more!

6-YO Penny was abandoned outside of an Orlando Petsmart . She has been vetted and had her teeth cleaned. Penny is house trained, very laid back, good with the other hounds, but not too interactive. She has no separation anxiety and is becoming more interested in the house goings on, as she becomes more comfortable. She is very content to chill out on the couch, go for a walk and then chill some more.

TC is a charming beagle, who loves car rides, dogs and kids and bonds with them quickly. He’s learning to obey all-new indoor commands like keeping off the kitchen furniture… but it’s sooo close to that tasty food! He follows his people around and sleeps with his foster families kids. When he’s not asking for belly rubs, he’s walking around the house with his squeaky in his mouth, looking for somewhere to bury his prize. He has a soft mouth and takes treats very gently. 

Delta Burke is a 9-YO Missouri gal. She’s sugar sweet and well on her way to get over her initial shyness. Doesn’t care a fig about the cat. Does care a lot about belly rubs, snuggling and sharing your bed. She is a dainty girl with a big dog woof who really needs a yard in which to kick up her heels, once she knows it‘s ok.