Ariel's Story: Inspiration for Senior Pet Adoption

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month. There are many reasons to adopt an older dog, as outlined by the ASPCA.

Melissa Martin, co-owner of Let Love in Animal Rescue in Fayetteville, Arkansas, decided that she would adopt a senior Boxer/Shepherd mix dumped at her local municipal animal shelter last month.

Ariel, formerly known in the shelter as Gertie, is around 14-years-old, according to her veterinarian. She was picked up by local animal control and being familiar with her, AC contacted Ariel’s former owners.

“She had a tumor and they wouldn’t release her without removing the tumor, so the owners left her,” says Martin. “I love Boxers and I wanted to give her a good home and I knew no one would take her."

Ariel’s tumor, which was benign, was removed before Martin adopted her. Ariel also takes medication for hip dysplasia and anemia, but Martin says after being in her home for a few weeks, Ariel is doing much better. The senior dog is also deaf, which presents a little challenge to the family, which includes Martin’s partner and three children.

“We just make sure we get in front of her when we want her to do something,” says Martin. “She seems to know what we want her do and she’s older, so it’s not like she’s running around.”

The ASPCA site points out that older dogs are easier to train, make fewer messes, don’t chew on property, are very loving and are easy going, all things the Martins have discovered with their senior pup.

“She loves to lay with us and she walks around the house and looks out the windows, she’s a pretty easy going girl,” says Martin.

Martin acknowledges that this senior, due to her medications, is a little more expensive than another dog the family could have adopted, but says, “She needed a better quality of life for what she has left than she had in the shelter.”

Which brings up the ASPCA’s #9 reason to adopt an older dog: “At shelters, older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Saving an animal’s life offers an unparalleled emotional return on your investment, and you’ll feel the rewards every day you spend together.”

Our first rescue was a seven-year-old Dachshund named Hershey. We had nine amazing years with her, and she went everywhere with us, including wearing a life jacket each Sunday on our boating trips. 

Have you ever adopted a senior pet? Would you consider it given that it is Adopt a Senior Pet Month? Tell us with a comment.