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Pros And Cons Of Senior Rescue Pets For Senior People

by Marie Vonow (follow)

Blogs:https://minamaries.blogspot.com.au https://simpleselfimprovement.blogspot.com.au/

Dogs (165) Cats (73) Pet Ownership (77) Senior Pets (2) Rescue Pets (1)

Image:Pezibear from Pixabay

Near Mother's Day I read an article suggesting that a good gift for an elderly mother who was still in her own home would be a senior cat or dog from a rescue home. Some compelling reasons about why this would be a good idea were put forward. However, I think there are many reasons against this which need to be given careful consideration.

Firstly, I am not in favour of giving anyone a pet (regardless of the age of the pet or the recipient) without checking with them first they wantand can are for that pet. The person also needs time to think of what pet ownership means and all the responsibilities. Yes, they might want the pet but are they really in a position to take full responsibility for it? If you want to give a friend's child a pet you need to talk it through with the parents first.

Reasons for an elderly person to have a cat or dog
Firstly, I will ignore the 'senior pet' part of the equation and consider benefits of owning a dog or cat. There are good reasons in favour, including -

they provide excellent company which is especially important to a person living alone or a person who has difficulty leaving the house

provide a sense of security

may help promote memory recall (according to psychologist Penny B Donnenfeld)

help lower stress levels

reduce blood pressure

reduce risk of heart disease

dogs in particular, increase social interaction

increase physical activity

give the person something positive to talk about

caring for pets is a reason to get out of bed in the morning

Image: Henriet Haan from Pixabay

Benefits of a senior pet
Senior animals in rescue shelters can be hard to find homes for. Reasons for considering a senior rescue pet for a senior person include -

are likely to be less active

will be house trained

dogs are unlikely to chew things or be destructive in other ways

walk more slowly

dogs less likely to jump up and push person over

Dogs and cats are considered senior from 7 years onward. Some are still rather active at this age and in excellent health for a few years on. However, there will come a time when the years catch up with them.

Disadvantages of a senior pet
At some stage a senior pet will start to slow down and show the signs of age. They will need extra care and the cost of vet bills and medication will increase. These factors can be a problem to senior people -

vet bills can be a financial stress

not all conditions are covered by pet insurance and if the owner has it, that means an extra bill

medications can be expensive

the pet may need frequent vet appointments and the senior person may find it difficult to get pet to the vet

a dog with arthritis may have difficulty getting up and down stairs or in and out of the car. A senior person may not be able to lift them safely due to the size of the dog or because the person is unsteady on their feet.

senior person may have difficulty administering medication if their hands are shaky

there may be no one to care for the pet if the elderly person wants to go on holiday

boarding kennels may not be a good option if the senior pet needs extra care

if the senior owner needs to go into respite, is admitted to hospital or moves into an aged care facility there may be no one to take on the responsibility of caring for the pet, especially if the pet needs special care.

the senior person may stress about how they will cope when their furry companion passes away.

Image:Jan Haerer from Pixabay

A survey was conducted of 600 pet owners. It was found, not surprisingly, having a pet with chronic or terminal illness increased the owner's stress and levels of depression and anxiety. It also lowered their general quality of life.

Each situation will be different. One doesn't know whether the pet will indeed have many health issues with increasing age or not. Some seniors have a network of able bodied friends, neighbours and family who are willing to help when needed. I read about an organisation which encourages seniors to adopt senior pets and provides support. A volunteer will visit to walk the dog and provide other care if necessary. This sounds like a great scheme.

An alternative to a senior person owning a pet is for them to volunteer somewhere that cares for cats and dogs. This way they can benefit from the company of pets without the responsibility.

# Cats
# Dogs
# Pet Ownership
# Rescue Pets
# Senior Pets

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