All dogs deserve a loving foster home while they wait for adoption. Yet, people seem to gravitate toward the puppies and young dogs more than the seniors, even though they need just as much love. Fostering senior dogs is essential because these dogs might not have a lot of years left, so they deserve to find their forever home as soon as possible and feel comfortable in the process. If you’re thinking about fostering, don’t overlook the seniors when choosing a dog to care for.
If you live in Memphis, dogs of all ages are desperately in need of foster homes at Memphis Animal Services. Without enough fosters, many of these dogs could be put down. So, please consider fostering to save a life.
Why Fostering Senior Dogs is Important
There are lots of great reasons to foster a dog, but for senior dogs, there are special reasons why fostering is important. Since they’re older and less likely to get adopted than young dogs, fostering them could make an even greater impact.
1. Senior Dogs are Often Overlooked
Many people want a young dog because they’ll likely get more time with them. Thus, adopters frequently overlook older dogs even if those dogs are the perfect fit. By fostering a senior dog, you can help them get more attention. You can learn more about their unique personality, you can post about them more on social media, and you can take them to adoption events.
When dogs are at a shelter, they don’t get as much one-on-one time with people, causing the shelter to not know as much about their personalities. Dogs have a better chance of getting adopted if adopters learn as much about the dog as possible. So, by fostering a senior dog, you’ll be able to tell potential adopters a lot about them, which could hopefully lead to more people considering adopting them.
2. They Might Be Put Down Without a Foster Home
Since senior dogs are often overlooked, they’re more likely to be put down than other dogs. Every shelter operates differently, but if a shelter is full, the dogs that have been there the longest are typically the first to be euthanized. Sadly, senior dogs often have longer stays at shelters than younger dogs because not as many people are willing to adopt an older dog.
If you foster a senior dog, you’re ensuring they have a comfortable place to stay until they’re adopted. Thus, the shelter won’t have to euthanize them to free up space. Fostering a senior dog from a crowded shelter will save their life. Even if you can’t foster an older dog, fostering any dog frees up space at the shelter so fewer dogs have to be put down.
3. Fostering Senior Dogs is Often Easier Than Fostering Puppies
People are drawn to puppies because they’re so cute and playful. Yet, fostering puppies and young, energetic dogs is a lot of work. They often need constant attention and more frequent training sessions. For some dog lovers, fostering puppies is doable, but for people new to fostering, it can seem overwhelming.
In most cases, fostering a senior dog is a lot less work. Most senior dogs are calm and easygoing. They’re likely already trained and have lived in a home environment before. So, while they still need love and their basic needs, they don’t need constant care and attention like a young puppy might. For anyone looking to try fostering for the first time, taking in an older dog is a great place to start.
4. Senior Dogs are More Predictable
A puppy’s personality can grow and change a lot as they experience new things. Yet, with most senior dogs, what you see is what you get. For fostering, that’s always a positive. A lot of times, shelters and rescues don’t have a lot of information about the dogs in their care, making it hard to tell if a foster dog will be a good fit for your home.
With senior dogs, you can get a pretty good idea of what they’ll be like when you first meet them. You can get a better idea of how they’ll behave in your home than you would with a younger dog. Since many senior dogs are trained and laid-back, foster parents usually have less to worry about than they do with puppies.
5. They Deserve a Loving Home in Their Final Years
Senior dogs may not have a long life ahead of them like most puppies do, but that’s all the more reason for them to live comfortably. No dog should have to live their final days in a lonely shelter environment. Instead, they should get to live in a comfortable home with people who love them. A foster home can give them a cozy space to wait until they finally get the forever home they deserve.
Also, just because a dog is a senior doesn’t mean their remaining time is automatically short. Many dogs live for a long time with proper care, so seniors can have lots of great years left in them. By fostering them, you can help them find the perfect family to live out their golden years with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Senior Foster Dog Programs Near Me?
Most shelters and rescues have senior dogs available, so reach out to them to see if they need foster homes for those dogs. Even if the current senior dogs already have foster homes, the organizations will likely need more fosters in the future. Some rescues specialize in senior dogs, which is perfect for dog lovers who only want to foster older dogs.
At What Age Is a Dog Considered a Senior?
Dogs are usually considered seniors between 7 and 11 years old, depending on the dog’s size. Giant dogs typically have shorter lifespans, so they’re considered seniors earlier. Then, tiny dogs usually live longer, meaning they might not be seniors until they’re over 10 years old.
Where Can I Adopt a Senior Dog?
You can adopt a senior dog from most rescues and shelters. Some organizations even specialize in finding homes for senior dogs. Senior dogs are often up for adoption longer than young dogs because they’re frequently overlooked.
What is a Senior Dog Sanctuary?
A few organizations label themselves as senior dog sanctuaries. These places usually act as permanent foster homes so older dogs have a place to live our their final years. Every organization operates differently, so you can reach out to one to learn more about how their program works.
Consider Fostering Senior Dogs
All dogs need foster homes, but people tend to lean toward puppies over older dogs for fostering and adoption. So, if you’re able, consider fostering senior dogs. There are so many wonderful reasons to welcome senior dogs into your home, especially since doing so could save their lives and give them the comfortable environments they deserve.
Memphis is an area in desperate need of foster homes. If you’re interested in fostering dogs of any age, check out the critical dogs at Memphis Animal Services. These dogs could be put down if they don’t find a foster home or forever home in time. Even if you don’t live near Memphis, consider fostering for shelters and rescues near you. No matter where you foster, you could be saving a life, especially for senior dogs.
