Hartz Mountain Corporation offers support for Adopt a Senior Pet Month

Via PR Web - November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and the Hartz Mountain Corporation wants to make sure potential pet owners are prepared for the responsibilities and joys a senior dog or cat can bring. Hartz has long encouraged the adoption of senior pets and even offers certain products especially for older animal companions.

Unfortunately, many people looking to adopt tend to favor younger dogs or cats leaving thousands of well-trained, loveable senior pets to spend the rest of their days in a shelter. During Adopt a Senior Pet Month, Hartz aims to raise awareness of the benefits a senior pet offers in the hopes that more owners will make the leap and take in an aging friend.

Help out a shelter and a senior pet by adopting 

Many shelters around the U.S. are filled with healthy senior pets looking for an owner that may never come. Millions of elderly pets end up being euthanized each year because they are deemed “less adoptable” because of their age.

The truth is senior pets are just as warm and friendly as younger pets, and they need a home just like any other dog or cat up for adoption. Shelters also take the steps of spaying or neutering and vaccinating available pets, so future owners won't have to incur the expense.

Advantages of owning senior pets

Some people adopt a cute puppy or kitten without realizing they also require a lot of patience and time. The great thing about senior pets is that they are already trained and are comfortable interacting with people on a daily basis. They are less likely to chew on a new pair of shoes or sharpen their claws on the couch.

Senior pets are already used to being trained and can easily be taught to follow new household rules by their adopted family. Owners will spend less time looking after their new companions and more time enjoying their company.

Another reason why senior pets may be a better choice for potential owners is their calm demeanor. Though older dogs still enjoy fun and exercise, they probably won't be dragging you down your street as they chase a squirrel. Both senior cats and dogs will delight in lounging around the house and cuddling by their owner's side.

It is clear that senior pets afford potential owners few surprises. Though it can admittedly be fun to watch your dog or cat grow up, extreme changes in size or behavior brought about by maturing may cause you to regret your decision.

With senior pets, there are much fewer risks and transformations likely to occur. The pet you adopt will not double in size after a month or start to eat three times as much as it used to. They may add a few gray hairs, but your new best friend will be around to share them with you.