5 Best Senior Dog Rescues

Senior dogs are often the last to get adopted from shelters or rescues. However, there are significant advantages to adopting a senior dog. Naturally, most of us want to get a puppy and watch them grow up. However, rescues or shelters rarely have puppies for adoption. If you’re looking to adopt a senior dog, here are a few things you should know.

Why adopt a senior dog?

If you’re not entirely sure whether to adopt a senior dog, you should know there are some advantages to it. Here are the best things about adopting senior dogs;

Housebroken

Puppies are certainly fun to have around, but they require a lot of training. Crate training, potty training, and leash training are just some of the things puppies need to learn. Senior dogs are already trained and housebroken. They know where they have to go potty or how to behave on a leash. You’re adopting a trained dog.

Less energetic

Senior dogs are generally a lot calmer. Puppies are little balls of energy that either eat, sleep, or play. Older dogs are calmer, peaceful, and generally demand fewer activities than puppies or adult dogs. Some of us prefer that lifestyle. Your new older dog will be more than happy with cuddling and indoor playtime. They won’t even object to staying in for a lazy night.

old dog closeup

Longer to settle in

This might not be one of the upsides of adopting a senior dog, but it must be mentioned. Older dogs have specific experience, and they mostly come from loving families. Imagine how hard it is coming from loving families and ending up with no human contact and staying in shelters. Senior dogs will take longer to settle in new households. However, once they get comfy and accept you as their new family, they will become the most loving dogs you can imagine.

Unknown lifespan and costs

Another thing you should be aware of is that you can never be sure how long a senior dog will stay with you. In many cases, the exact age of senior dogs in rescues is not really known. Another downside is that senior dogs might have unpredictable veterinary costs. Older dogs are prone to different health issues because their bodies are slowly deteriorating.

However, if you decide you want to adopt a senior dog, you should know you will get a lovely pet that is already trained. Here are the best senior dog rescues in the US;

1. Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary

If you live in Tennessee, you might find your new senior friend in the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. These guys are fantastic. They are dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming senior dogs. This rescue is based on foster homes. Dogs in their care are placed in permanent and temporary foster homes. Dogs get all the necessary vet care, and if they weren’t already, they would get spayed or neutered. All of them are microchipped, and foster parents take fantastic care of them.

State: Tennessee

Contact: 615-314-5565

Website: https://ofsds.org/

old dog in a sweater

2. Senior Dog Sanctuary

If you’re from Maryland and want to adopt a senior dog, your best chance is the Senior Dog Sanctuary. These guys are dedicated to saving senior dogs from their area. They will stop at nothing to provide everything dogs in their care might need. If they can’t find anyone, dogs will stay at their foster homes for the remainder of their lives.

State: Maryland

Contact: [email protected]

Website: https://www.seniordogsanctuary.com/

3. Senior Dog Haven and Hospice

Another fantastic organization senior dogs can rely on is the Senior Dog Haven and Hospice. They are a foster care-based organization, and dogs in their care are entirely provided for. If they save a terminally ill senior dog, they even offer hospice care. They want to make sure no senior dog is left alone in the final stages of their lives. This non-profit will help you search for senior companions, and the adoption process is fairly straightforward.

State: Delaware

Contact: [email protected]

Website: https://seniordoghaven.org/

old dog muzzle

4. Home for Life Animal Sanctuary

One of the best senior dog rescues in the US is the Home for Life Animal Sanctuary. Not only are these guys incredibly humane, but the sanctuary they organized includes heated floors, comfy beds, and everything a senior dog needs. They even take retired working dogs, terminally ill, and special needs dogs. Even if you don’t want to adopt, you can get involved by fostering or donating. If you’re from Minnesota and looking for a senior dog, get in touch with these guys, and they will most likely have a dog for you.

State: Minnesota

Contact: [email protected]

Website: https://www.homeforlife.org/

5. Grand Paws Senior Sanctuary

Grand Paws Senior Sanctuary is based in California. They are dedicated to saving senior dogs from high-kill shelters and give them a second chance in life. They are primarily focused on saving larger senior dogs. If that is something you’re looking for, these guys might have your new companion waiting for you. All dogs in their care are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and the vet examines them. This is a great thing, so you don’t have too many costs at the beginning.

State: California

Contact: [email protected]

Website: https://grandpawsrescue.org/

senior german shepherd-dog