This post is sponsored by Hill’s® Science Diet® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Adopt A Senior Pet Month and ‘Mission Adoptable’ Campaign, but Emily Reviews only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
Did you know that senior pets typically have lower adoption rates than younger animals? I adopted my pugs Frank and Beans when they were 8 and 9 years old. Pugs typically have a life expectancy of 12-15 years, so I was a little surprised that we got some concerned or even negative comments we received about adopting a senior dog. These two little dogs have brought so much joy into our lives in the past 4 years since we brought them home. I’m absolutely crazy about them! I always try to give words of encouragement to people I know who are considering adopting an older dog. I think it’s a wonderful thing to do! Senior dogs still have a lot to offer, so it makes me sad that they are often overlooked in shelters.
November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month. Hill’s has teamed up with Animal Planet to do a web series called Mission Adoptable. Their goal is to show how adoptable older pets really are.
I just love seeing her run and play! Visit the Mission Adoptable page to see more adorable videos of pets finding their forever homes. If they touch your heart, consider visiting your local shelter and specifically look at the senior dogs or cats available, as many other people visiting the shelter will be overlooking those pets. When we adopted our pugs we had a similar experience of watching them slowly come out of their shell. Even now at ages 12 and 13 they enjoy playing but only with people who they are close with. It’s incredible what finding a new home that meets their nutritional, exercise and social needs can do to dog!
Hill’s® Science Diet® dog food is specifically formulated for pets ages 7 and older to help fight the effects of aging. We’ve been using the Hill’s Science Diet Natural Vitality For Toy & Small Breeds and my pugs absolutely love it. Older animals have different nutritional needs from young dogs, so it’s important to me to choose a formula for seniors. If you have an older pet and you want to help fight the effects of aging, try Hill’s Science Diet Natural Vitality.
Learn more about Hill’s Science Diet by visiting the Hill’s website or by following them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
There are so many benefits to adopting a senior dog! I know that it is not for everyone, as getting attached and then losing a dog can be pretty devastating. However, giving them the loving home that they deserve is so worth it! 🙂
I have adopted two senior dogs, and I also foster for a rescue with seniors as being my thing. People always seem actually shocked that I have had two dogs that died in the last four years. “How can you stand it?” It is so important to me that these sweet animal souls don’t die alone and frightened in a chaotic shelter. I am also a genius at getting them up to optimum health so that they have a great last years. Prebiotics are good, chia seeds, glucosamine (I make their food). It seems like you and I feel the same way.
I am so glad that this program exists. Seniors need homes too! There are so many wonderful senior pups that need a loving home. I love the pics of the pugs. They look just like my pug baby.
I love this so much!! Adorpting a senior dog can be just so amazing! They don’t have all that crazy puppy energy and most just really want love and affection! I love that they make food that helps entend their years and keep them healthier in the aging process!
I crosspost a lot senior dogs on facebook. Senior is consider seven and above- seven!!! Seven fr most breeds isnt even old. I wouldnt hesitate adopting a senior and our current dog was when we got him (he was also black which was another strike) Senior dogs are usually trained (somewhat) they have manners, are generally housebroke, they are as nice as any other dog. I 100% agree with you.
Your pugs are precious!
My mother in law wants a dog soon and I have been trying to get her to get a rescue one or just one from a shelter. New puppies get adopted all the time. Why not save a dog and give him a second chance?
The pugs are soooooo cute! We volunteer at a shelter and my daughter wanted to adopt a 12 year old white husky named Jenna. She was so sweet but we just weren’t able to at the time. She did find a home with a really nice older couple.
Awww….I think it is wonderful that you did this! That is really some food for thought when adopting a pet…adopt one that others might pass up! We have cats and no dogs but I know this is an issue also for both senior cats and for solid black cats as they are the least adopted!
I’ve read before that black dogs are adopted less too :(. Most pugs are “fawn” coat which is the tan with black ears/mouth but they can also be all black and they are SUPER cute. I had kind of hoped to adopt a black pug before we found these two but once we saw them it just felt right so we went with our gut. I’m glad we did, of course, but I’d like to still get a black pug at some point in my life. 🙂
I have two rescue dogs that I got when they were adults; I have a friend who runs a rescue and foster in their house, they have around 6 senior pugs at this moment. They keep them all safe and loved.
I would adopt a senior Pug again and again. They are all unique and have different attitudes. There are so many pets in shelters needing homes, it is so sad. If I could I would try to save them all.
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We would love to adopt a dog but already at our limit with 3 cats. Plus our work hours make it hard to come home and let them out. Maybe someday…