Wouldn’t it be great if you could adopt a pet that is family-ready – housebroken, mellow, ready to fit right in? The good news is there are many dogs and cats at shelters and rescues that fit this profile. The bad news is they wait a long time to get adopted because they are overlooked due to age. With the senior pets, their personalities are set and what you see is pretty much what you get.
To help highlight these animals, November has been designated as Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month. Here are some dogs and cats from several Chicago-area shelters and rescues that we’d like to spotlight in hopes that someone new will read their story and consider adding them to their home. Please cross-post, Tweet and pass along these animals and we’ll see how many we can get adopted.
The slideshow to the left has photos of all the animals featured below. They are the laid-back dogs and cool cats – the seniors looking to live out their golden years in a loving home.
Justin is a wonderful 8-year-old Shih Tzu that lost his home due to the economy and was rescued from a high kill shelter just in time. He is a great dog that is well behaved, walks well on a leash, is housebroken, loves laps and really loves to play doggy tag with his foster siblings in the yard. He is quite the dignified older gentleman who would make a great traveling companion for a retired couple or individual.
Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control (FCACC)
Truman is a happy, friendly and affectionate 10-year-old black lab/chow-mix looking for a loving home. Although he doesn’t know any commands, he is well behaved, housebroken and non-destructive. He even ignores the kitties in his foster home but would be best as the only dog. He loves walks and car rides but would love a permanent home most of all. Contact his foster at karinmccool@yahoo.com or the rescue group fido@famousfidorescue.com.
Precious was living the good life in sunny Florida as one of the pets belonging to Heartland’s shelter manager’s father, who has since passed away. Now this 9-year-old girl is looking for a home to call her own for her golden years. She is friendly and easy going and lived with other cats and also got along with the two dogs in the house.
Sweet Popo is a Tibetan Terrier who has lived in a home most of her life and is still getting adjusted to her surroundings. She lost her home due to someone’s allergies. This 8 1/2-year-old girl really loves to go on walks and get attention. For now, she’s unsure and timid as she figures out the latest chapter in her life. Popo would love to settle back into a home soon.
Rebecca came into Save-A-Pet as a stray and is really quite comfortable with the other felines in the cat room. This 9-year-old girl is a bit unsure of most people but she really has a playful side. She loves the glitter pompoms, DaBird and the lazer light. She must have spent quality time in a home because she is great at using the scratching posts. She just needs someone to give her some time to get used to a new home and settle in.
Aurora is quite a distinguished beauty with a few wrinkles to set her apart from the other dogs at Save-A-Pet. This 10-year-old girl is independent and doesn’t like to be smothered and would do best in a home without small children and as the only dog. She has lived with a cat for a short time. Sometimes Aurora gets a bit too excited but a dog savvy person could show her the ropes and take her on long walks as well. Aurora is available as part of the permanent foster program.
Foxy Brown was dumped at Tree House four years ago after her owner went into a facility for the disabled. She was missing most of her teeth when she arrived and had a tumor removed from her mammary glands last year. She has persevered through it all as this shy girl has blossomed into a trusting, personable cat. She loves attention but gets nippy when overstimulated. Foxy Brown is around 12-years-old and a loner in the cat room that could live with or without other cats.
Fantasia is a beautiful 12-year-old brown tabby that was rescued as part of Young at Heart’s Super Senior Save this past summer. This sweet girl was very ill and was pulled from the other shelter just in time. She spent a month in the hospital and by the time she recovered this purring machine had become a favorite at the vet’s office. Now that Fantasia has settled in at the adoption center it’s been discovered that she loves to visit with people of all ages and she just loves to purr. She gets along great with the other kitties and doesn’t seem to mind dogs.
Cody and Jordan are quite the dynamic duo. This sweet pair lost their home due to the economy and ended up in a rural animal shelter. Cody is a funny, playful Cocker/Shih Tzu mix who is around 10 and full of life. Jordan is a sweet and mellow girl who is a Setter/Cocker mix and is around 11. She loves treats but could stand to lose a little weight. Both dogs love people, are good with other dogs, are housebroken and polite around the house. They love to go on walks together and because they are so great together, they must be adopted as a pair – a two-fur-one package
If you’re looking for a couple of perfect gentlemen, look no further than Armand and Malykai. These lovable brothers lost their home when their owner could no longer care for them. They are friendly, sweet, lovable and love people. They are a bit scared in the shelter after spending their life in a home. Armand is around 26 pounds and needs to go on a carefully monitored diet – he also has gorgeous fur that was matted when he first checked in. Both boys are looking to go to a home where they can love and be loved for the rest of their golden years – they are around 7-years-old.
Precious is a 6-plus year old Pit Bull that really keeps improving with age. Precious is a sweetheart who is easy-going and loves to be petted. She should easily fit into any home. She is food motivated and has done well in obedience class. This girl will spread a lot of love and joy wherever she lands. Precious has been adopted.
Chicago English Bulldog Rescue
Tookie is a wonderful 6-year-old boy who kinda talks like the Cookie Monster (Tookie Monster) and lost his family when tye could no longer care for his allergies. It took him a bit of time to settle in after losing the only home he ever knew, but now he’s warmed up and recovered from his allergies. Tookie loves to make a nest out of his sleeping bag and gathers his booty (toys) around him. He is leash and potty trained and although he’s a quiet boy, Tookie is sensitive to loud noises and surprises. He loves to be loved, ignores cats and would really love to have another canine buddy in the house.
If you'd like to nominate a dog or cat to be featured in a future Saturday adoption section, please email me at kathypetexam@gmail.com. During Noveber we are highlighting senior pets for Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month.
Do you volunteer or work for a shelter or rescue that has programs you'd like to promote? Do you work in a pet-rleated business that has an interesting story to tell. If so, contact me at kathypetexam@gmail.com. Enjoy this article? Receive email alerts when new articles become available. Just click on the subscribe button above. You may also follow me on Twitter, Facebook or read my blog.
Comments