- Karyn Stratton
A Note From The Editor :
November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month ... a designation founded by the ASPCA to improve adoption prospects for senior pets . Over 6 million companion animals wind up in shelters in this country every year ; only 3.2 million are adopted . Ten percent of animals are surrendered due to the death of their owner . Sadly , senior pets that were once beloved companions are often the last ones to find new homes . Older dogs are about 25 % as likely to get adopted as younger ones , and only 60 % of cats find homes when they are older than 18 months . The amount of time elders spend at shelters ( four times longer than their younger counterparts ) also increases their risk of being euthanized to make space for more homeless pets . But here ' s some good news ... senior dogs and cats , when given the chance , make excellent companions for a multitude of reasons . And adoption rates are starting to rise with the increase of rescues dedicated to rehoming elders . While they may have a few health issues and shorter life span , the benefits of adopting an older pet far outweigh the challenges , and contrary to popular belief , they can adapt quite well to a new family . They don ' t require as much attention and energy as puppies and kittens , as they are just grateful to have regular meals , a warm bed , and someone to love . They ' re a lot calmer , usually housetrained , likely to know and follow commands , and are comfortable with people and other pets . And here ' s another plus - you can already see their personality and temperament , which makes it easier to know if they will be a good match with your family . They ' re ideal companions for older folks , and are said to significantly boost seniors ' physical and mental health . So if you ' re thinking about adding a pet to your family , please consider offering a fresh start to an older dog or cat . The reward of knowing you saved a life - or spared one from spending the rest of its life caged in a shelter - is the biggest benefit of all . Here are some reputable senior pet rescues in Pennsylvania : Gray Paws Sanctuary ( graypaws . org ), Senior Pet and Animal Rescue ( seniorpetandanimalrescue . org ), Happy Tails Rescue Retirement Home ( happytailsrescueretirementhome . com ), Senior Hearts Rescue and Renewal ( seniorhearts . org ), Mureille ' s Place - A Senior Dog Sanctuary ( mureillesplace . org ), and Good Old Tails Senior Animal Rescue ( goodoldtails . org ). Hope you find a senior soulmate !
- Karyn Stratton
In This Issue :
Pet Calendar of Events ........................................ page 2 Upcoming Pet Events .......................................... page 3 Around the Hydrant : News You Can Use .......... page 4 Safe Thanksgiving Food for Pets ........................ page 4 Holiday Treats for Cats ......................................... page 5 Breed All About It - The Jack Russell Terrier .... page 7 Cute & Crazy Critters ......................................... page 8 Health Highlights : Heart Disease in Cats ......... page 9 Adoption : A Loving Option ............................... pages 10 , 11 Pawsitively Delicious .......................................... page 12 Ask the Groomer - Your Dog ' s Haircut ............. page 13 Win a Funki Flingerz Dog Fetch Toy ................. page 13 Wise Words from WAGZ ................................... page 14 Subscriptions - Let Us Fetch Your Next Copy ... page 15
On our cover : " Jake "
Thanks to
Jan Kopczynski of Warsaw , Poland
for providing us with his photo !
Pawsitively Pets -- November
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