Senior pets can and do bond very strongly with their people. Many seem to understand that they've been given another chance at a happy life ... and they're grateful for the opportunity to love someone and be loved back!
Seniors for Seniors
Senior animals can make wonderful additions to the lives of seniors by offering gentle companionship, lower activity levels and previous training. Senior animals often experience depression when they enter the animal shelter. Adoption by a mature senior who understands their calm nature and need for companionship, is a perfect match for these senior animals. To an older animal, a senior citizen that will dote on them and spend a significant amount of time allowing them to sit on their lap or lay at their feet provides an inviting and ideal new home.
Health professionals confirm that the human-animal bond increases attention span, reduces social isolation and improves physiological conditions such as lowering blood pressure. Pets provide friendship for lonely individuals, offering an opportunity for care-taking and interaction that an older person may miss if family is not nearby.
Many times senior citizens want younger pets, but an older pet is often a better choice. Puppies and kittens take a dedication that any new pet owner knows too well; it requires patience while training, and constant reinforcement. The elderly do much better with elderly pets as most are already trained and housebroken and require only a loving home and owner. Older pets are the perfect companion because they are generally calmer, quieter and easier to care for. More importantly, they provide their owners a reason to get out of bed in the morning and a great reason to get outside and exercise!
Dogs and cats used as pet therapy to the elderly in nursing homes and the homebound is a national trend proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Elderly people who own pets will statistically live longer and feel responsible and needed by their companion pets.
So if you're considering a new pet, why not give some thought to giving a deserving senior a second chance? Instead of passing by older pets, stop and spend some time with them - you may end up finding the most wonderful companion you could have ever asked for!
Caring For Your Senior Pet
R.S.V.P
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
The Humane Society is interested in implementing a new program to involve seniors who are interested in the welfare of animals to volunteer their time and talents to the shelter. One aspect of the R.S.V.P. program would be to team up senior citizens with senior pets. The campaign, which was originally formed by a national humane organization, hopes to unite the elderly with their perfect companion pet. Seniors 55 years or older will be matched with a dog or cat that is 6 years or older to form a perfect union.
If you are interested in helping to pilot this program at the HSCC, please call the shelter at 765-654-7717.
Some of the other responsibilities might include:
- Writing a monthly newsletter
- Arranging visits to the nursing home for shelter animals
- Providing/Arranging for foster care for shelter animals
- Applying for grants
- Assisting with fundraising
- Assisting with letter campaigns