Dogs for seniors - the love and companionship of a pet is a wonderful thing at any age. Owning a dog confers all sorts of health and emotional benefits.  From increasing the owner’s physical fitness to providing unconditional love, dogs give much more than they take.  Yet, it is often difficult for senior citizens to adopt a pet. Here are some of the reasons why, and some of the things you can do to mitigate the mindset.  Seniors should be able to enjoy having pets no matter how old they are. AGEISM Yes, unfortunately, ageism is alive and well at some shelters.  These organizations take one look at your gray  hair and say a resounding “no”.  They don’t advertise this, or ever tell you the reason for a denial.  To avoid these places, read some online reviews. But just because a shelter has some bad reviews doesn’t mean that it’s a bad shelter. Some people who just shouldn’t have a dog due to living arrangements, or past history with pets, will become enraged when their applications are denied.  These are often…

REASONS NOT TO GET A DOG Why you shouldn't get a dog.  Despite all the hoopla about the health and mental benefits of dog ownership, there are just as many reasons not to get a dog.  Not every home, not every family, is a perfect place for a pet.  And, although every dog should have a home, not every home should have a dog. Here, spelled out plainly, are a few of the reasons why you shouldn't get a dog. COST If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this could be a big factor in your decision. I am not one of those who thinks you need to be rich to own a dog, but you do need to have your head firmly above the financial waterline. FOOD Dog food is expensive.  The cheapest out there is the bargain basement Old Roy from Walmart (which is not the healthiest food for a pet), at about $20.00 per 50 pounds.  On the other end of the scale, Taste of the Wild dry dog food goes for $65.00 per 28 pounds.  A 40-pound dog…

  Returning a dog to the shelter happens pretty regularly in animal rescue.  Approximately ten percent of adopted dogs are returned to the rescue they were adopted from within six months.  Another ten percent will follow later. Why does this happen?  What can you do to avoid bringing the wrong dog into your family in the first place?  And, if you return a dog, will any shelter ever adopt to you again? KNOW YOUR LIMITS BEFORE YOU ADOPT TO AVOID HAVING TO RETURN YOUR DOG TO THE SHELTER Many shelter dogs have no past history, having been found as strays and never reclaimed.  It would be wonderful if previous owners would at least call Animal Control and give them an idea of the dog’s temperament and history.  But this just doesn’t happen.  If the previous owner has no desire to reclaim their dog, they generally have no interest in what eventually happens to it.  Which leaves the shelter reading past training and personality from only a few days or weeks at the facility. Even owner surrenders, where a personality assessment has…

Below are ten questions to ask before adopting a dog.  There could be many more, depending on your lifestyle, energy level, and preferences.  But the answers to these questions should illuminate a dog’s personality (“doganality”??) and allow you to make the right decision for your family. COMPATIBILITY QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE ADOPTING A DOG 1. Has she been around children since she’s been here? Or, did she live with children in her past home?  If so, what ages?  Were they noisy?  How did she react? This is important to know, even if you don’t have children or grandchildren yourself.  You want to at least have a clue whether your new pet will be safe if you take them out.  Unless you have kids who visit your home, the answer may not sway you one way or the other.  But it’s always good to know if your dog needs to be watched around children when in public. Bear in mind that many children are not taught the proper way to approach pets.  They’ll run up to them suddenly, won’t ask the owner’s…