Ever take a trip through the kennels or cattery at Animal Welfare? The first thing you notice is a lot of people making a fuss over puppies and kittens. After all, they’re adorable! But as cute as puppies and kittens are, they’re a huge responsibility to housebreak, socialize, and train adequately with the busy schedules that most of us have.

That’s why this month, Albuquerque Animal Welfare is urging you to take home a mature pet in time for Thanksgiving. This coincides with “Adopt a Senior Pet Month,” an effort by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), dedicated to the often overlooked senior animals that come into shelters.

Mature pets offer many things much younger animals don’t. They’re ideal companions for anyone who is very busy or for other pets already in the house. They almost always are housebroken or litter box trained. For older persons, mature pets are generally calmer than puppies and need less intense exercise. In the unlikely event they have behavioral challenges or health problems, they are usually spelled out. In other words, there should be no surprises.

Many adopters often believe older pets in the shelter have behavioral or health challenges, when actually many pets have outlived their novelty with impulse owners who don’t have the time, energy or resolve or money to be good owners. Older pets tend to bond deeply with their new families, of course, after an adjustment period in their new surroundings.

This month, we urge you to visit the Eastside shelter at 8920 Lomas NE (still open despite the construction), the Westside shelter at 11800 Sunset Gardens SW, Lucky Paws store at Coronado Center or the Mobile Lucky Paws van to find your new forever best friend. Low fees are still in effect at the shelters for mature cats and dogs, as well as pets of other ages.
Celebrate Thanksgiving in style! Celebrate it with a new pet!