November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month and Woods Humane Society is celebrating with a “Senior Pets Rock” promotion, which waives adoption fees (not including dog license fees) for senior pets ages 7+ all month.
“Senior Pet Month is a wonderful opportunity to spread awareness about the many great reasons to consider adopting an older dog or cat,” says Woods CEO Emily L’Heureux. “Just like the classic rock tunes we all love, the whole family can appreciate the sweet qualities of a senior pet. They’ve got soul, swagger and a love for the simple things like snuggles, snacks and naps.”
Woods explains that seniors make up only 8% of Woods’ pet population throughout the year, but they often arrive in need of substantial medical care, and their lengths of stay before adoption can be two to three times longer than that of younger animals.
Two examples of seniors at Woods are Smiley, an adorable, happy 8-year-old Chihuahua who was treated for dry eye and recently received a dental procedure at Woods; and Tiny, a 12-year-old Yorkie, recently treated for dental disease. Tiny is available for adoption now and Smiley will soon be available for adoption at Woods.
“Thanks to a transformative grant from the Grey Muzzle Organization that is helping us provide adoption veterinary care for senior dogs, and through Woods’ Senior Pets Rock promotion, we are ensuring more older pets in our community will receive the love, comfort and medical care they need in their golden years.”
To help increase awareness about these special souls, Woods offers these three “top hits” reasons why senior pets rock:
- They’ve been around the block. Seniors are often already house-trained and know how to live peacefully with humans, making for a smoother transition into a home after adoption.
- Their wild heydays are behind them. Older dogs and cats don’t usually need huge amounts of exercise and stimulation, are often calmer and gentler and tend to snooze peacefully while you’re away. This can equate to lower demands on their owners.
- They’re wise and soulful. Senior pets offer a maturity and sensibility that their younger counterparts sometimes lack, and they have so much gratitude for your kindness and companionship. Their soulful, loving gazes and loyal companionship are the timeless gifts of senior pets.
To view all of the currently available senior pets at Woods, visit www.WoodsHumane.org/adopt or visit in person during daily public hours from 12-5 p.m. (adoption hours are from 12-4 p.m.). For more information about Woods, visit www.WoodsHumane.org or call (805) 543-9316. Woods Humane Society is located at 875 Oklahoma Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, and at 2300 Ramona Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422.