Dogs: a word synonymous with happiness. Coming home to my dogs and hearing the patter of two sets of paws on the hardwood floor instantly makes any day better. My dog, Luna, will immediately attempt to jump her 40 pound frame on me, but my other dog, Annette, prefers to sniff my bag for food.

People usually are surprised when they ask how old my dogs are. My dogs, who are in their late teens, are about 110 years in dog years. They are bright and energetic, and are always bouncing around.

However, when adopting dogs, people usually look past older candidates. According to the Humane Society of the United States, people are often hesitant to adopt senior dogs due to concerns about health issues or not getting enough time with an older pet.

In the Chicago Tribune, Sara Kent, who is Petfinder’s director of shelter outreach, outlined how senior dogs often are more challenging to place in homes.

“I would say the seniors are definitely the most difficult to find homes for,” Kent told the Tribune. “We just recently completed a survey of members and asked what is the hardest type of pet to rehome.

Senior dogs are often less work. Most older dogs don’t need to be housebroken and already know basic commands, like sit or stay. According to the ASPCA it is really surprising that senior dogs have an adoption rate of 25 percent, while other dogs have an adoption rate of 60 percent.

Adopting dogs can also be good for your health in general. Studies have shown that when you are with your dog, whether walking or just lying on the couch, oxytocin is released. Oxytocin is a hormone that can help relieve stress and even lower your blood pressure, according to the American Psychological Association.

Studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information have shown that blood pressure goes down, cholesterol levels improve and even heart attack risk declines. It’s also important that the dogs in the study varied in ages, so the results are not exclusive to puppies.

Now I can guarantee that when you come home to your puppy chewing on furniture, your blood pressure would skyrocket. However, senior dogs would be waiting for you by the door, and not trying to figure out the taste of your kitchen table.

Why would you choose a puppy that would cause so much stress? There’s a reason why couples adopt a puppy before having a child. (Hint: Both puppies and children require a lot of work!) Why would people turn down a dog just because they are a few years older than what they are looking for?

Now, 43 animals have found their way to Chicago, due to Hurricane Harvey, through PAWS Chicago. PAWS volunteers drove down to Texas and brought back the animals from Houston shelters. PAWS is currently caring for these animals, which range from grown dogs to kittens, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Most of the animals were already in the shelter before the hurricane hit, and were moved to large cities like Chicago to make room for other pets displaced by the hurricane. Most of the animals had illnesses, like ringworm, that need long term treatment. PAWS is currently trying to place these animals in foster homes while they undergo treatment.

The Anti-Cruelty Society is also caring for Hurricane Harvey pets. In early September, the Anti-Cruelty Society received over 80 cats and dogs that were flown from Texas to Waukegan by volunteers and then transported to Chicago, according to DNAInfo. The animals, like the PAWS rescues, were already in shelters when the hurricane hit.

 

More than ever, we have to look past the subconscious favoritism we give towards puppies and kittens. We have to realize that every pet, no matter how old, is worthy of a loving home.