The Pleasures of Older Animals

The Pleasures of Older Animals

by Linda Clyne

A number of years ago a TV ad featured a giggling toddler frolicking in the grass with a litter of fluffy, yellow puppies. Though I paid no attention to the product being sold, I would have gladly paid to take the little boy’s place in that teeming heap of happiness.

But take a puppy home? Not on your life! You see, as much as the sight of “widdle-biddy-babies”makes me swoon, I have discovered that adopting older animals can bring far greater pleasure. And although my own experience with “seasoned citizens” has been limited to the canine variety, I know plenty of cat lovers who favor maturity when looking for a feline friend as well. Here are some reasons why:

First of all, animals with problems – whether health or behavior-related – usually don’t get to be older animals. People often wonder what’s “wrong” with pets that end up in shelters or rescue programs. In most cases, there is nothing “wrong” with the animals except that they did not, for some reason, meet their former owner’s needs. Behind most human-pet mismatches there is a perfectly good animal just looking for the chance to live in a loving, secure home. Dogs and cats of any age can bond again. Animals adopted as adults seem to know, somehow, that they have been given a second chance. They also have a way of letting you know how much they appreciate it.

Mature adults can settle quickly into your life with little interruption; they’re accustomed to human schedules and will not subject you to the trials of housebreaking, teething or other demands that come with little ones. Mellower than a youngster, the older pet enjoys just hanging out and keeping you company.

Adult animals have grown into their shape and personality; what you see is generally what you get. And even if the animal’s history is less than stellar, remember that many factors can contribute to a pet’s “problems” in a past environment. If you have the time and patience, you can teach an old dog – or cat – new tricks. The rewards are many when someone else’s cast-off blossoms in your care.

But life is fleeting, and we who seek gray muzzles when choosing animal companions understand that our time together will be shorter, that our hearts may ache sooner. Old pets remind us to savor every moment…. Perhaps that is what makes the pleasure so much sweeter.