Help celebrate November  adopting a senior pet. November is Adopt-a-senior-pet-month. Most people looking to adopt always have that cute little fuzzy puppy or kitten in mind, while the joy of seniors get overlooked. Giving a second chance to an older companion can be equally rewarding.

What benefit do you get from adopting a senior pet? You get the perfect pet. Most seniors are already house broken, way passed the tearing up your couch phase and all about the unconditional love. There are an abundance of healthy senior pets available in shelters and rescues. Senior pets allow you to still have a life that revolves around working, personal time and raising children. If you have had the pleasure of having a senior pet then you know how special and wise an old senior is. If you have not experienced this bond with a senior pet, its a good time to help save a meaningful life. There are little disadvantages in adopting a senior pet.

The top ten reasons to adopt an older dog.

1. Older dogs are house trained. You won't have to go through the difficult stage(s) of teaching a puppy house manners and mopping up after accidents.

2. Older dogs are not teething puppies, and won't chew your shoes and furniture while growing up.

3. Older dogs can focus well because they've mellowed. Therefore, they learn quickly.
   
4. Older dogs have learned what "no" means. If they hadn't learned it, they wouldn't have gotten to be "older" dogs.

5. Older dogs settle in easily, because they've learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack.

6. Older dogs are good at giving love, once they get into their new, loving home. They are grateful for the second chance they've been given.

7. What You See Is What You Get: Unlike puppies, older dogs have grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grow up to be quite different from what they seemed at first.
   
8. Older dogs are instant companions -- ready for hiking, car trips, and other things you like to do.

9. Older dogs leave you time for yourself, because they don't make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies and young dogs do.

10. Older dogs let you get a good night's sleep because they're accustomed to human schedules and don't generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or bathroom breaks.

Courtesy of The Senior Dog Project http://www.srdogs.com

Please help spread the word of how wonderful adopting a senior pet can be. Senior pets make great companions for seniors, families and children! Please visit www.petfinder.com to find a senior pet available for adoption near you!

Posted by Heather Ballance: Best Friends Network Volunteer

Photo by: Heather Ballance: (Dog available for adoption: http://www.pauldinghumane.org - 9 year old Female)