by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know that for the last three years of writing this column (I know can you believe that?)
I have made sure to write about November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month? So here we are again. It is hard for senior pets to find new homes because people in general do not want their hearts broken sooner rather than later. Adopting a senior animal is like asking for heartbreak knowing time is not on the pet’s side. Of course, ending up homeless at an advanced age was not in the pet’s plan either. Most senior pets end up in shelters when their caregiver has to move into senior living or has passed away. A very sad time for the owner and pet. Even when the plan was for the pet to go live with a family member, that rarely happens. But when it does, it is so heartwarming to hear of it and for the owner it is a blessing knowing that their beloved pet is still in the family and not alone in a shelter.
Unlike Belle, an 11 year old plus size senior calico cat who was adopted from our shelter several years ago and recently returned when her owner died. She is a temperamental feline who loves toys and treats (obviously too many) and only wants attention when SHE wants it. It took 2 months before she was emotionally ready for the adoption side of the facility. Belle requires an experienced cat person and a quiet home to fit her personality.
There are those times when the pet is simply not wanted anymore, whether due to its medical needs or household changes that have negatively affected the animal’s temperament. Take Jerry, for instance, a large 10 year old short hair hound mix who was brought to the shelter as a stray, supposedly found at the bowling alley. As it turned out, Jerry had a microchip which was registered with another shelter who provided the owner information which just so happened to be a family member who brought him in! When the adult in the home was questioned we were told that Jerry was growling at a house now full of children and had been a burden since adopting him 7 years ago!! Instead of returning him to his prior shelter, the son was told to drop him off at our shelter because we are closer. Needless to say, Jerry was no longer wanted. This family was asked to officially surrender him with a modest surrender fee rather than face abandonment charges and charges for falsifying a business document. Jerry was not worth the effort. Unfortunately, this family resides in New Jersey which is beyond our jurisdictional reach. This all happened a year ago. And Jerry is still waiting for a quiet home without children with adults who will leave him alone when he’s eating.
This designated month lets us start by “viewing senior pets through the lens of potential rather than limitation and help spread the word that “old” doesn’t mean “done.””(Animal Behavior College).
Pets of the week
