Senior Pets Matter!

When private individuals want to relinquish a senior pet, our mission is to be able to offer advice to try to keep the senior pet in the home. For example, sometimes a house-soiling problem can be controlled by the use of a belly band, the introduction of puppy pads, or even canine or feline diapers. We also assist senior pet parents who may be having difficulty affording vet care, medication, or even just basic necessities. Our priority is to try and keep senior pets in their homes, rescue senior pets who have been relinquished to a shelter, and help senior people keep their own pets.

Too often, senior pets are outright abandoned, which is when we offer help in finding them a safe place to land. We are unable to accept owner-surrendered pets at this time, as we do not yet have a sanctuary. It is our goal to learn about any issues prior to a surrender or abandonment, however if that is not the case, we do our best to keep senior pets out of high-kill shelters and offer financial assistance until they can be placed in a foster home or a forever home. 

Donations are a critical part of our mission, as we cannot help without the resources to sustain what we do. Keeping a senior pet in their home through common sense solutions, or helping a senior person afford their current pet is far less expensive than trying to re-home a senior pet. It is also far less traumatic for everyone concerned . . . . especially the senior pet. Shelters can be quite scary and confusing to a pet who has been abandoned. Even though most pets are very resilient, it is preferential to keep them out of the shelters and in happy homes. Please, won't you help us sustain our mission by making a generous donation today?! No amount is too small. Many raindrops fill an ocean. 

Donate directly at www.SeniorPetProject.org.  Thank you for your support.  ♥

Click here to view our Senior Pet Project video!

www.SeniorPetProject.org

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt A Senior Cat ♥

Here at The Gifted Pet, we truly adore the seniors, and we want to challenge you to look behind the fluffy cuteness of a new puppy or kitten and see the beauty that older pets have to offer! Here are our top 10 reasons to adopt a senior cat (also be sure to check out our top 10 reasons to adopt a senior dog). For tips on caring for your older pet, ask us about Senior Pet Care 101.

  

Top 10 reasons to adopt a Senior Cat:

1. When senior cats are adopted, they seem to understand that they’ve been rescued, and are all the more thankful for it.

2. A senior cat’s personality has already developed, so you’ll know if he or she is a good fit for your family.

3. You can teach an old cat new tricks: Senior cats have the attention span and impulse control that makes them easier to train than their youthful counterparts.

4. A senior cat may very well already know basic household etiquette (like not attacking your feet at night) anyway!

5. In particular, senior cats are often already litter trained and are less likely to “forget” where the box is.

6. A senior cat won’t grow any larger, so you’ll know exactly how much cat you’re getting.

7. Senior cats are often content to just relax in your company, unlike younger cats, who may get into mischief because they’re bored.

8. Speaking of relaxing, senior cats make great napping buddies.

9. Senior cats often know that scratching posts (not furniture) are for scratching and toys (not hands or feet) are for biting.

10. Senior cats are some of the hardest to find homes for ~ so when you adopt a senior cat, you’re truly saving a life.

Choosing to adopt a senior cat is a life-saving choice, but don’t adopt one because you feel bad . . . . adopt one because they’re easy going, instant companions.  When senior cats are surrendered it may be due to a life altering change and is a last resort, however we are finding that lately this is not always the case.  An owner’s ill health, the birth of a child, allergies, senior pet illness, an unforeseen move or financial change; the reasons (or excuses) are many. Senior cats that end up in shelters are good cats with no place else to go.  No senior pet deserves to spend the last years of their life in a noisy, scary shelter. By choosing to adopt a senior cat you’re giving him, or her, a second chance at life.  ♥

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutique (http://www.TheGiftedPet.com), and premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftedPet), or email her at Raven@TheGiftedPet.com

Senior Pet Project ♥

Keeping Senior Pets in Forever Homes & Helping Seniors Keep Their Pets™

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As a life-long rescued pet parent, animal lover and animal rights advocate with a soft spot for the seniors in need . . . both pets and people . . . I was raised to respect ALL living beings, as well as the wisdom of our elders, regardless of species.

In March 2013, I was brought to tears by the story of a senior couple who reluctantly left their 13 1/2 year old senior dachshund wrapped in a blanket in a basket outside Baldwin Park Animal Shelter in California. Attached to his basket was a heartbreaking letter:

“Our dog is 13½ years old. He is sick starting yesterday with bloody stools, vomiting. Had a skin disease for a few years. We are both seniors, sick with no money. We cannot pay for vet bills, or to put him to sleep. He has never been away from us in all those years. He cannot function without us. Please put him to sleep.” 

You can read the entire story at Life With Dogs here: Senior Dog Left With Note by Heartbroken Senior Owners

There are many stories that have reduced me to tears, anger, heartache, and that helpless feeling of wishing I could do more.  I now feel compelled to do more, hence the creation of the Senior Pet Project. My mission is simple . . . . keep senior pets out of the shelters, and keep pets in their homes with their senior people (or others in need), who are on fixed incomes. No true pet lover should have to choose between paying for their own expenses and paying for their pet's basic needs . . . . food, treats and regular vet care. 

It is beyond frustrating to constantly hear the heartbreaking stories about shameless owners dumping their senior pets at a shelter, or God forbid, on the side of the road, leaving them lost, confused, frightened and alone. Rarely is there a valid reason. 

The money raised for this project will be used to set up a 501(c)3 (non-profit) foundation, Senior Pet Project, as well as go toward setting up a fund for education & awareness campaigns (pets are family, senior pets deserve better, pets are forever . . . not just "until", etc.), and from which we can assist those folks in need with daily necessities including food, pet supplies, quality vet care & transportation . . . . whatever is needed to best care for their pets . . . . and, to give everyone peace of mind.

Eventually, we hope to open a sanctuary for senior pets who have been abandoned, are deemed "unadoptable", are terminally ill, or who need a place to live out the remainder of their twilight years.

Please help me bring Senior Pet Project to life by donating today. You can help make a difference in the lives of senior pets, as well as their senior people.

http://www.gofundme.com/SeniorPetProject

*In loving memory of Homer Dog, Kenya Cat, Modaka Cat, Patrik Pug, and all the senior pets that I have been blessed enough to share my home with in my lifetime.  This project is also dedicated to Niklas, my soulmate, life partner, confidante and so much more, who was taken from us far to soon.  I miss you every single day . . . ♥

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutique (http://www.TheGiftedPet.com), and premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftedPet), or email her at Raven@TheGiftedPet.com