Senior dogs and cats from various shelters have better chances at living out their twilight years with lots of pets and cuddles, thanks to the residents of Waltonwood’s Michigan and North Carolina senior living communities.
The residents have been busy organizing “Seniors Helping Seniors” events to help elderly animals in shelters: They have crafted over 200 cozy blankets, baked over 1,000 dog treats, and donated over 2,000 toys for the animals, as reported by Southern Living.
Eight locations hosted the “Seniors Helping Seniors” adoption events and even sponsored adoption fees for those who found the cost to adopt an animal too great a barrier. The initiative struck a chord with the Waltonwood communities — some residents apparently found the senior dogs and cats too sweet to part with.
“We were able to help 10 senior dogs and 2 senior cats find loving homes!” Sara Bailey of Waltonwood told Lady Freethinker about the animals residents adopted themselves.
Courtesy of Sara Bailey/Waltonwood
The events were so successful that the senior living communities are already working on “Seniors Helping Seniors” events for next year, Bailey told Lady Freethinker.
Despite being just as adorable and deserving of love as their younger counterparts, senior dogs and cats often face a grim fate as they are less likely to be adopted and more likely to be euthanized.
“Senior pets often face the misconception that they are less capable of adapting to new environments or forming strong bonds,” Waltonwood said in a statement. “However, like Waltonwood residents, these pets bring a lifetime of experience, love, and loyalty.”
There are many reasons to consider adopting a senior dog or cat — they’re often calmer, their personalities are fully developed, and they have endless love to give.
Lady Freethinker commends these compassionate seniors for going above and beyond to help older animals find new forever homes. With shelters everywhere struggling with overcapacity, every ingenuity to help find these animals loving homes is worth celebrating.
