How to Adopt a Senior Dog (and why you should)
In 2016, thanks to a Facebook post from the New Mexico Boston Terrier Rescue, my family adopted a senior Boston Terrier.
We never knew what her name was before, but we named her Betsy. From the moment she walked through the door, she fit into our family as if she had been with us her entire life. Betsy patiently cared for and played with my children, and never passed up an opportunity to snuggle. She was a truly special girl, and we loved her immensely.
She passed away in 2019, and there has been a Boston Terrier shaped hole in our hearts ever since. Although saying goodbye was very difficult, and we wish we would have had more time with her, adopting Betsy was one of the best decisions we ever made, and we would do it again in a heartbeat.
Our experience with our senior dog adoption was so positive that I want to encourage everyone to consider opening their home (and cozy sofa) to a senior dog in need.
Here are a few helpful tips for finding and adopting a senior dog:
Find a rescue that specializes in senior dogs.
Rescue organizations like Old Dogs New Digs or Argos Shelter Dog Rescue focus on finding forever or foster homes for senior dogs and will be happy to help connect you with a special senior dog!
Fill out an interest form with your local shelter or rescue and let them know you're interested in senior dogs.
When inquiring with rescue organizations, you’ll almost always be asked to fill out an inquiry form that will ask about what you are looking for in a dog. All you have to do is indicate you’re looking for a senior, and they’ll do the rest of the work to help you find a match. You may also try filtering searches on online databases of adoptable pets to show only certain age ranges.
Join community rescue groups on social media and follow tags for senior dogs so you'll be among the first to see posts featuring them.
Use social media to your advantage! If you put your ear to the ground, you’ll undoubtedly find a senior dog in need in no time!
I know that the Holiday Season is a popular time to seek out cute little puppies, but if you have the opportunity to foster or adopt a senior dog, please consider doing so. There are so many dogs just like Betsy out there who need a loving home to live out the rest of their days, and because they're more experienced dogs given their age, most of them behave like angels and just want to snuggle all day!
In Memory of Betsy.
You're forever missed.
Hi, I’m Cheyenne.
I am a photographer who is OBSESSED with creating beautiful portraits and custom works of art for pets and their people.
I have been an animal lover since day one, and I love working in a field where I get to work one on one with animals every single day.
I proudly serve New Mexico and the Southwestern United States (but will travel upon request- just ask for a custom quote).
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