If you are on the fence about adopting a pet

B

Bearcat22

New Member
Consider these optoins. Some animal shelters actively recruit and train volunteers, a great place to get to know the animals over time.

Some shelters have overflow volunteers who offer temporary homes to animals. I did this for a while and it was a great experience.

I adopted a cat, and I have to say it transformed my very sad and lonely life. People are mostly really horrible. An animal is loyal if you are
loyal.

Increasing corporate consolidation and greed is driving landlords to charge pet fees or to ban pets. You can get around this. Legally if it is
a designated "emotional support animal" they cant charge you extra or ban you. Go online, therapist for a small fee will rubber stamp
your "emotional illness and need for a support animal" with a document you can print.
 
I (sadly) decided I am too old to get another cat. The Cat Distribution System (CDS) decided differently. A cat with kittens (two surviving) appeared on my porch. We have been feeding them and trying to socialize them for adoption. It has been 8 months or so. They have been neutered and are great company. A friend will step in if something happens to me.
 
debodun said:
I'd like another cat, but as I get older, I'm lucky if I can care for myself.
Then I think of the cost of buying food, litter and vet care and cleaning the litter box.
And the sad day they go to Rainbow Bridge.
Talked myself out of it.
Click to expand...

I do completely understand.
Could you at least volunteer at a shelter in a desk job and be around some lonely kitties locked up there?

A prison in some state started a program for inmates to train dogs to be service animals, another one rewards long term inmates with good behavior the privelage of living with a cat adopted from a shelter.

Some shelters bring cats and dogs to visit persons stuck in hospitals and nursing homes. You still have a voice, make some calls and maybe get this type of thing happening near you.
 
Bearcat22 said:
Consider these optoins. Some animal shelters actively recruit and train volunteers, a great place to get to know the animals over time.

Some shelters have overflow volunteers who offer temporary homes to animals. I did this for a while and it was a great experience.

I adopted a cat, and I have to say it transformed my very sad and lonely life. People are mostly really horrible. An animal is loyal if you are
loyal.

Increasing corporate consolidation and greed is driving landlords to charge pet fees or to ban pets. You can get around this. Legally if it is
a designated "emotional support animal" they cant charge you extra or ban you. Go online, therapist for a small fee will rubber stamp
your "emotional illness and need for a support animal" with a document you can print.
Click to expand...
I just rescued a 6 moth old kitty. Apparently my Abbygail thinks I am her Mommie. She is now my reason for living.
 
Bearcat22 said:
Consider these optoins. Some animal shelters actively recruit and train volunteers, a great place to get to know the animals over time.

Some shelters have overflow volunteers who offer temporary homes to animals. I did this for a while and it was a great experience.

I adopted a cat, and I have to say it transformed my very sad and lonely life. People are mostly really horrible. An animal is loyal if you are
loyal.
Click to expand...
I just opened my back door and they walked in.

It's kind to take in homeless cats, and you don't have to travel far to find one. In my case, it was the distance from my recliner to the door. I walked it.
 
Murrmurr said:
I just opened my back door and they walked in.

It's kind to take in homeless cats, and you don't have to travel far to find one. In my case, it was the distance from my recliner to the door.
Click to expand...
As long as you can afford to take them to the vet for shots, scan for microcchip, check for ear mites, a local stray can be an alternative to a shelter cat. Feral cats often also have flea mites that grow up and get into your furniture.
 
Bearcat22 said:
As long as you can afford to take them to the vet for shots, scan for microcchip, check for ear mites, a local stray can be an alternative to a shelter cat. Feral cats often also have flea mites that grow up and get into your furniture.
Click to expand...
There are programs that assist with vet costs for people w/low income, and like many, our city does free neutering twice a year.

Two of my formerly feral cats were already neutered and de-wormed and all that. They'd been taken by TNR volunteers, and released in my area. I took them in knowing feral cats have a short life-span, and a really tough one. And I knew probly no one else would take them in because they were kind of ugly. One of them is not so bad-looking now, a year on.
 
My younger brother who is a doctor totally believes that Seniors should have a pet unless cannot afford to.

So many benefits such as : " Keeping a pet provides significant medical benefits by lowering stress, reducing blood pressure, and increasing physical activity. They offer companionship, easing loneliness and anxiety while boosting "feel-good" hormones like oxytocin and serotonin. Furthermore, pets improve cardiovascular health, provide structure for daily routines, and can enhance social interaction, contributing to better long-term mental and physical health. "(Univ. of California)
 
One thing that I keep noticing over and over is that it's fine for seniors to have a pet if they have somebody (usually grown kids or grandkids) who can take the pet if it outlives them. That not being my case, it's a constant worry about if our dog outlives us, she'll end up at the dog pound being put to sleep. I'm finding that worry, along with the others, very burdensome.
 
officerripley said:
One thing that I keep noticing over and over is that it's fine for seniors to have a pet if they have somebody (usually grown kids or grandkids) who can take the pet if it outlives them. That not being my case, it's a constant worry about if our dog outlives us, she'll end up at the dog pound being put to sleep. I'm finding that worry, along with the others, very burdensome.
Click to expand...
Even if your worst fears come true at least your dog had a home while you both are alive. Many puppies/adult dogs are euthanized at shelters because of lack of space.
 
Teacher Terry said:
Even if your worst fears come true at least your dog had a home while you both are alive. Many puppies/adult dogs are euthanized at shelters because of lack of space.
Click to expand...
That's true. But the worry about what could happen to her is a worry I did not need dumped on top of all the other worries I have. Also, taking care of her like she should be taken care (lots of playtime, etc.) is just wearing me out.

So even though I never thought I'd feel this way, having a pet is not for everyone.
 
officerripley said:
That's true. But the worry about what could happen to her is a worry I did not need dumped on top of all the other worries I have. Also, taking care of her like she should be taken care (lots of playtime, etc.) is just wearing me out.

So even though I never thought I'd feel this way, having a pet is not for everyone.
Click to expand...
I’m sorry that you are stressed out about this. I have decided since I’m a senior that I’m only adopting older dogs so we match energy. It sounds like your husband talked you into this.
 
I worried about getting a young pet, because like several have mentioned - what if I die and it's left alone! But ... the cat I adopted was lost and alone, living on the streets. I had intended to get an older cat, but she found me! I have spoken to the kids, and they promised to find her a home if something happens.

She is the burst of energy this house needed! We love watching her run around and be so full of life!


20250814_ITSY2.jpg
 
Teacher Terry said:
I’m sorry that you are stressed out about this. I have decided since I’m a senior that I’m only adopting older dogs so we match energy. It sounds like your husband talked you into this.
Click to expand...
Yep, he sure did. When we had our dog before this one put to sleep last Fall, he told me that it was totally up to me as to getting another dog or not. I said let me think about it and he said ok. so I did think about it for a couple of months and decided that no, I didn't ever want another dog, but before I got a chance to tell him that, he flew up and said he'd changed his mind, he wanted another dog.

So I thought oh all right, we'll get another but I want an older, quieter one this time. Before we've always adopted 1 or 2 year old dogs since it'd be a longer time before the dog died. (I'm the one who has to take the dog into the vet and hold her while she's put to sleep; he can't handle it and sits out in the car crying.)

But I thought this time, let's go ahead and get an older, quieter, cuddlebug kind of dog. Nope, he wanted a dog that would be active and playful so that's what we got. (All of these dogs prefer him over me--I just want to cuddle them and only play a little bit and I'm also the medicine-giver and the disciplinarian, he's the fun one--so I figured let him get the dog he wants, that's what we've always done anyway.)
 
debodun said:
Me working at an animal shelter would be like an alcoholic walking into a liquor store. Too much temptation. ;)
Click to expand...
I actually volunteered at a local Humane Society for four years in their office. I never saw any of the animals because I never walked back to where they were because like you I knew I’d be taking one home and I already had four dogs. So it is possible to volunteer without being tempted if you want to.
 
At near 80 and after around 50 years with a dog at my side about 3 years after loosing my wife I lost my dog that had quickly took her place by and on the bed to comfort me.
I had decided at my age to not get another one but my daughter saw things clearer than I and got me a little puppy, not a good idea one might think but now 3 years later I say it was the best thing she could have done.
That puppy sure got me up out of my chair, training, feeding, yelling for and now in more recent years fending off a rather large collie sheepdog who tries to climb on my lap. I just love the attention, he has been my savior, with a friend like him you simply cannot sit and feel sorry for yourself for very long.

My young granddaughter has recently moved out on her own and now has a young cat and its seems to be working for her also.....

Get yourself a pet ...even if its only a goldfish which is what she started with!
 
I have had a rescue dog before- and would willingly have adopted another one after she died - but I like little dogs
was very lucky to get that one.

There were no young little dogs for adoption. ( didn't have to be puppy but young enough to train and be with us for long time so up to about 2 years old)
Lots of staffies, rottweilers etc totally unsuitable dogs for me

So we bought one from a licenced reputable breeder.
 
Brookswood said:
Don’t adopt a pet. Acquire it.

Save adoption for human children.
Click to expand...
I do not understand this post, if you look at the previous poster Loves Tulips they state very succinctly the benefits of having a pet. How does one acquire it other than through adoption , from either a shelter or a breeder. So many animals are homeless and it is up to us as humans to help as many as we can. I have a rescue dog from Mexico and a cat from one of our local rescues, I would not be without them. I have made arrangements for them, they will be taken care of If I wasn’t able to. At my age I would not get another pet but if able I would gladly foster.

Of course children should be adopted but by young couple's, i know that many seniors are parents to their grandchildren but is it by choice? If they had their life over would they do it again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top