I’ve had a number of older owners book lessons with me lately—more than half a dozen individuals and couples in their 70s and even 80s, all wanting some training help with their new dogs or puppies. I’ve been impressed by their optimism and commitment in taking on a dog who may live 10 or 15 or more years as well as their dedication to training and improving the dog’s behavior. And almost all of these clients bought a purebred puppy.
I haven’t questioned any of these clients about why they bought a puppy instead of adopting an adult dog from a local shelter (though I did offer my appreciation to the one client who did!). But I was discussing this with my sister, who started the conversation by telling me about a senior citizen friend of hers who bought a puppy after being denied the opportunity to adopt from their local shelter (in Colorado). After smarting from the rejection—she’s an experienced dog owner with the means to care for a dog very well, and has a younger backup person in place, in case something happens to her—she formulated a plan. She bought a puppy (from a breeder who had no age limitations on their buyers) and she convinced two of her elderly friends to also adopt pups from the same litter, so they could get the three pups together regularly for socialization and dog-sit for each other when one of them travels or has medical appointments—a brilliant arrangement!
However, I will say that most of the older clients I’ve worked with recently did find their puppies to be somewhat overwhelming. Even though all of them are experienced dog owners, it’s been some time since they raised a puppy—and raising a youngster is different at 80 than 60! But at least one client admitted to me that while she went to the local shelters to look for a dog who would be suitable to adopt, she was frightened by the overwhelming supply of large, untrained adolescent dogs; she didn’t see any friendly small dogs at all! So she started looking at online ads for breeders of small dogs.
Is it an urban legend that shelters and rescues are denying older clients the opportunity to adopt? Or have you seen this in your area? And are you aware of any smart alternative to help seniors who want to own dogs until the end of their days find a suitable canine companion?
It is absolutely true.
When my parents lost their dog we tried to find an older dog through a rescue. After a few excuses I figured out that they didn’t want to place a dog with my parents because they were in their 80s. Now they were both fit and in good health and experienced dog owners. They had a completely fenced in large yard, had plenty of money for vet care, good diet and anything else to spoil that dog and were home all day with nothing to do but play with and train the dog. My Dad walked their previous dog every evening around the neighborhood. I brought my dog over for play dates and there is a doggy daycare right next door that would often “borrow” their dog to play with their canine clients. Longevity runs on both sides of my family and my parents are still alive today at 95. Not to mention that before I would allow my parents to get another dog it was understood that if the dog outlived them, I would take it. In my family no dog goes to a shelter; we take care of our own.
We tried senior dogs, then adult dogs, then adolescents with the rescues. You would think they would be happy to place an older dog. When my parents finally said said let’s try a puppy we discussed the terrible twos and all of the stress a new puppy can cause with all of the training. They were adamant and I resolved to be there to do a lot of training if it was necessary.
Finally I contacted the same rescue I had gotten my Diana pawPrints from and I made all of the arrangements. They specialize in large breeds but occasionally get some smaller dogs. I showed them a number of dogs online, they chose one that looked to be from a smaller breed given the size of the Mom and I filled out the paperwork for them. On adoption day I went with my Mother and since I had already adopted a dog from this rescue they had no problem with her. She also looked to be in her 60s, not in her 80s.
It was the best thing for them. They were both lonely and the house was quiet without Candy and now Dolly gave them a new purpose. Their lives revolve around that dog. She was even mostly house trained by the foster.
Dolly turns 6 this year and they’ve never been happier.
Now I should mention that Candy, their previous dog lived to be almost 14 years old. And even then they had trouble adopting a dog. In the end my sister found a puppy and she and her son went to get it and inferred the puppy was for them. My parents outlived that dog and it’s looking like they might outlive Dolly too.
Yes, there most certainly is an ageism prejudice, especially with rescues.
BTW, we bypassed our local shelter because the rescues swoop in and take all of the small dogs and purebreds. With nothing left but Labradors, GSDs, Huskies and pit bulls there were no suitable dogs for my parents to choose from. Yeah, that’s a thing too. The rescues take them and then charge $500 for an adoption fee. It’s a scam as the dogs are already spayed and neutered.
My Freyja was $90 from Hesperia Animal control and they had already spayed her. If I had adopted her from a rescue, they still would have charged me $400-$500.
This is the reality. At least in Southern California it is.
So sad that potentially wonderful adopters are turned away due to being at a more mature stage of life! Just curious–are rescue groups even legally allowed to ask a potential adopter’s age?
Yes, they can and they can deny adoptions due to age. Both too young and too old. It’s legal age discrimination.
How is it that individuals with disabilities can have a support/service dog? Would denying a senior the right to adopt an adult or senior dog because of age not be considered age discrimination (ageism)? Don’t we have laws in our federal and local communities that protect us from discrimination? I would think that a respectable rescue or shelter would have staff/volunteers in place to check on each adopter (all adopters, not just the seniors). Some rescues/shelters don’t realize that a dog could be a lifesaver to someone who needs emotional support, particularly seniors who are grieving the loss of a loved one, are isolated, or lonely. I am an advocate for seniors. Recently, I read an article about someone who returned their dog because he was too old.
I started adopting adult shelter dogs when I was in my sixties. My first was Lacy, a greyhound, who lived to be 13. Next was Roxy, eight when I adopted her, and she lived to be 15. Then Joey, adopted at age three, now he’s nine, and Gracie, adopted three months ago. My local shelter did not ask how old I was. They had my record of adoption over the years and were glad that one of their unwanteds had a chance at a good home. I am now 87. I have a wonderful younger friend who will take Joey and Gracie when I am gone. In the meantime, I love caring for these two sweet dog companions of mine.
I will only rescue an older dog now just because I am in my 70s. I have one now that is 10. I got him as a puppy guesstimating I will outlive him. Now, I would only adopt a senior because I don’t want them to outlive me. But, in case they did, I always have them in my will as to who will take them when I die.
Our Humane Society, Lollypop Farm, offers Seniors for Seniors, and waives the adoption fee!
Ours does too, but even a senior Lab, GSD, Husky or Pit Bull is too much for a senior in my opinion. That’s pretty much all they have.
I was 72 when my last rescued mid-size dog died due to liver cancer at 10 years of age. Like many in my age bracket, I assessed my increasing physical limitations and decided a small adult dog was the right choice. After putting up with the 3rd degree without results from at least six area rescue organizations, including one from which I had already adopted twice (!) I began talking to friends and friends of friends in my search for my next canine companion. The bad news — a Morkie puppy was my ultimate choice from a recommended private breeder where I was able to meet both doggie parents. The good news is that she is now almost 7 years old and is a devoted companion who would be perfect if she had a mute button. (No one will ever sneak up on me.) I have made arrangements for her care should she outlive me, and if I lose her while I am still alive, I will work with a local organization that places senior dogs with senior people. I can’t imagine living without a dog!
I was turned down when trying to adopt a 6 month old Schnauzer mix…I am 81 years old, still go for a walk in the woods every day and had a Schnauzer upto his death at 15 1/2 years of age..I rescued my dog from Michigan Humane when he was 6 months old and I was 65..Unfortunately the dogs available at Mich. Humane are generally larger breeds.I am looking for a dog around 25 lbs. that I can pick up.The rescue that turned down my application has all of their dogs fostered and they are very choosy about who can adopt them…BTW, I donate more than $500.00/yr. to each of these org. , not for favors ,but for my love of the animals…
One of the saddest things, to me, is a dog outliving its human. Isn’t that whats bound to happen if very senior gets a puppy? I just turned 70 and it makes you stop and think about whats next. I rescued all four my dogs(one at a time) over the last 45 yrs. My current rescue is 9.5yrs and she has been with me for almost 6 years. My plan for after my current dog crosses over is to foster any rescues that need a soft place to recover. I can’t imagine my life without a dog in it. My plan if my Dottie outlives me, she has chosen the person she would like to live with already, and all my sisters and friends all lay claim on her if that person doesn’t work out.
The whole dog journal has been a major influence for me for i think about 30 years or so., thank you whole dog journal!
Oh, I would never get a puppy now. I’m still very active, I still backpack and do primitive camping but I would never never never now have the energy for a puppy!
Great article and awesome, helpful responses. Thanks everyone!
The article is true! We wanted a small younger dog. Older dogs have more medical needs and after caring for a diabetic dog for over 5 years and another with CCD and cancer for over 1 year we wanted a younger one. The smaller cute ones had long list of applicants so the chance of a 72 and 78 year old qualifying was slim.
We found a breeder who would take the dog back should our circumstances change. Our current pup was 90% housebroken and slept the night at 10 weeks. We are still going through the various puppy stages at 13 months. He keep us moving and will be worth it when puppy stages comes to an end.
Many dogs I see in our local shelters and rescues are large pit bull mixes or other breeds we didn’t want. They do not fit our home or lifestyle. Two small rescues have warmed my heart and their memories still live on. Not everyone wants a big dog.