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Tuesday 18 April 2017

ADOPTING A SENIOR ANIMAL OR A PUPPY/KITTEN?

Everybody always wants to adopt a puppy or a kitten, yes they are very cute, but you have no idea how it is going to turn out.
Your extremely cute puppy may be a chewer with no shoe safe, that fluffy kitten could decide that it is wonderful to explore at night and visit all the neighbours.
This is where adopting a more senior animal with a known history is a major advantage – you already know all their bad habits (if any) and you can decide whether you can live with them.
Senior animals don’t always end up in rescue centres because of bad behaviour, very often it is because the owners have to move or just cannot afford to take care of it any more.
We have adopted a number of senior dogs and cats over the years and without exception, they have been an absolute joy. Each and every one of them was grateful for the second chance we gave them.
Take Rascal (featured in the picture) as an example. He was a Collie/German Shepherd cross and around nine or ten years old when we adopted him. Our intention was give him a comfortable and loving environment in which to see out his remaining few years. The average life span for dogs of his size is about 12 years. Rascal, even at his age, was incredible with a tennis ball – his catching skills would have made Jonty Rhodes jealous!
Rascal was seventeen when we had to let him go peacefully. Seven years of pure joy and bliss for us.
There is also this misconception that senior cats will try and return to their original homes. That may happen now and then, not one of the senior cats we adopted ever even attempted that. They settled into our household like long time residents and where among the most loving cats we’ve ever had.
Please, do yourself and a senior animal a huge favour, really consider adopting one of them instead of a puppy or kitten – you will be rewarded with love and loyalty!

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