All dogs deserve a loving home, but sadly many older dogs struggle to get adopted. Many shelters find that senior pets often get passed over by adopters in favor of younger dogs.
But senior shelter dogs deserve to have a home where they can enjoy their twilight years in peace, and thankfully there are organizations specifically dedicated to helping older dogs find families.
Like on one recent flight, which flew dozens of older dogs across the country to find homes.
Pet Rescue Pilots is a nonprofit organization that transports pets from overcrowded shelters around the country to help them find homes. They have helped save over 2,500 dogs.
But for their milestone 125th flight, and in honor of November being “Adopt a Senior Pet Month,” the rescue decided to do something special by having a seniors-only flight.
On November 5, the flight took 23 senior dogs 856 miles from Los Angeles to Eugene, Oregon, where rescue organizations met them to bring the dogs to new families, according to Today. The flight was a collaboration with the senior-focused rescue group The Grey Muzzle Organization.
Most of the dogs were picked up as strays in the Los Angeles area. They all have homes waiting for them in Oregon, either forever homes or fosters.
PRP said that dogs are considered seniors by age 7, and while they may still have plenty of life ahead of them, they struggle to get adopted. They only have about a 25% adoption rate, far lower than that of shelter puppies.
For the people who do take a chance on these wonderful older dogs, they prove to be ideal pets.
“When a pet is more predictable, as is the case with senior dogs, their placement also tends to be more successful,” Elizabeth Thompson of the Oregon Coast Humane Society said in a statement, per Today. “And we find that the energy level and personalities of senior shelter pets works well with our own senior community of fosters and adopters.”
“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re delighted to help deserving organizations like Pet Rescue Pilots make a difference in the lives of dogs and people in their communities,” Grey Muzzle’s executive director Lisa Lunghofer shared in a statement, per People.
“Many senior dogs from rural California shelters are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the wonderful work of Pet Rescue Pilots and their rescue network.”
What a great thing to do for these senior dogs. So glad they are getting the homes they deserve!
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