Animal Welfare Association Senior Pet Programs Waive Adoption Fees for Shelter’s Eldest Residents

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month

November 01, 2021

Voorhees, NJ – Senior animals are usually the last to be adopted from a shelter – according to the ASPCA, senior dogs only have a 25% adoption rate compared to the 60% adoption rate for young dogs and puppies. Animal Welfare Association’s (AWA) Seniors for Seniors and Can’t Buy Me Love adoption programs waive adoption fees to help more senior animals find their forever homes.

“Senior pets tend to be overlooked and often stay with us at the shelter for longer than 30 days,” says AWA Executive Director Maya Richmond. “What people don’t realize are the plenty of positive reasons for adopting an adult animal.

Adopting a senior animal comes with a number of benefits such as an established personality, calm demeanor, basic obedience training and house training. Adult animals are typically experienced with living in houses among people or other pets and will settle into a new home easily.

AWA is a participant in the Seniors for Seniors: Pet Adoption Senior Companion Program. Sponsored by the Camden County Commissioners, Seniors for Seniors places senior cats and dogs with senior citizens who are 60 or more years old. The program waives adoption fees for Camden County residents.

The Can’t Buy Me Love program waives the adoption fees for animals with certain challenges that will require their adopters to devote more resources to training or medical care. These animals are often seniors with age, health or behavior challenges. Can’t Buy Me Love is always looking for Pet Sponsors to make monthly contributions that provide funds to the animals in the program. Sponsors help pay for additional services like training, consultation with a behaviorist and special medical care or housing. Contributions are tax deductible.

For more information on AWA’s senior pet programs, visit www.awanj.org or call 856-424-2288.

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Animal Welfare Association, a private, non-profit, 501(c)3 animal welfare organization, serves the people and animals of southern New Jersey. AWA is dedicated to eliminating animal suffering, promoting the importance of the human-animal bond, and improving the role of animals in the wellbeing of people. Through a variety of programs including adoptions, veterinary services, pet therapy, and humane education. AWA is South Jersey’s leader in progressive companion animal care.