Celebrating our senior pet members | National Senior Pet Month

Updated 13/11/2024

November marks National Senior Pet Month. Here at Trusted HQ, it’s no secret that we're big fans of all kinds of pets: big and small, fluffy and scaley, young and senior, and we never miss a chance to celebrate our pet members.

We know that providing an elderly pet with a life of love and affection during their twilight years could turn out to be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. Sadly, though, senior pets can often be overlooked in rescue shelters. The ASPCA reports that senior dogs, for example, have a 25% adoption rate compared to the 60% adoption rate of younger dogs and puppies.

Our lovely sitter member, Zoe, loves caring for all kinds of pets, but throughout her pet sitting journey has picked up a real passion for caring for senior animals. Here, she shares some of the adorable senior pets she's cared for, along with a few reasons why senior animals make such purr-fect pet sitting companions…

5 reasons why senior animals make great pet pals

1. You’ll pick up some important life lessons

It’s often said that senior pets are young at heart with a zest for life that extends beyond their years, and senior pup Dixie sure is testament to that!

“I left a piece of my heart with Dixie in Glastonbury, UK after a sit there last year. If you want a lesson in how to live your life right, go hang with Dixie for a few days. That's the magic of senior pets; they show you that while aches and pains may be more plentiful, they still want to have fun and be active!"

While it's important to manage your senior pet’s energy levels to ensure they don’t overdo it, you’ll soon discover that there really isn’t anything quite as endearing as a young pup in an old dog’s body...

"...Sometimes too much fun! With Dixie, she ran like a puppy up to the nearby fields. It was my job to be the sensible one and limit the fun to recommended time frames from the owners. I think Dixie appreciated my 5-star massages at the end of every walk, as well!“

Related article: Dog massage techniques for relaxation and pain relief

2. You’ll be well-loved in the company of a senior pet

Caring for senior pets can be so rewarding, and sure enough they'll reward all the extra care and time you invest in them with unwavering love and affection!

“Bella is a gorgeous, young-at-heart, 12-year-old pooch that I looked after in Cape Town. She had had knee surgery a few weeks prior so part of my remit was to take her to her aqua-physio and acupuncture appointments. So fun!

Though, that proved problematic for her rehab as she would overdo it on the stairs. It was fun teaching her to wait at the top, and also training her to take the stairs slowly when we did need to go down them.”

3. You’ll learn that patience is a virtue...

“The brilliant Samson was 18 when I cared for him. He had some kidney and thyroid issues but took his medicine like a champ (bribes helped!), and the diseases meant he was picky with his food. He would sometimes wake at 3 am for a meal, and I was always happy to oblige without complaint - I figure if you've made it through 18 feline years, you deserve to get everything you ask for!"

Senior pets may need more time, care, and attention, but it’s all so worth it when you realize the gift you are giving these animals: the chance to live out their twilight years in the best possible way.

"One of the things I love about senior pet sitting is that I know I have the patience and attitude required to give them the best possible care.”

4. You’ll learn to appreciate life at a dog’s pace...

It’s true that with age, comes wisdom. You only need to look into the eyes of a senior pet to realize they have a depth of knowledge well beyond their years - and they could probably teach us humans a thing or two!

“Zoe and Drifa were two amazing Westies that I cared for in Reykjavik. 14 and 11 respectively, this mum and daughter duo liked a slow amble around the nearby park. Well, Zoe did. Drifa got extra walks to make up for the speed of the twice-daily ambles!

As Zoe was more senior (she sadly passed away in December 2019), she occasionally needed to be carried for parts of the walk - but that didn't stop her wanting to go out!”

5. You’ll see how fun-loving life can be - regardless of age! 

“Bear is a fun-loving Staffy that I cared for in Venice Beach, CA. He was 10 at the time and a little on the creaky side, joint-wise. He had daily medication and required a specific ball toss to stop him from rolling during games of catch.

He snored like a trooper, though I'm not sure that had anything to do with his age!”

A special thanks to our member, Zoe @staypawsitive for sharing her photos and stories with us!

Thinking about welcoming a senior pet pal into your home, or pet sitting for one soon? Take a look at our top tips for caring for senior pets here. Or, if you're still searching for your next pet sitting adventure, browse our latest worldwide house sits today.