Senior Dogs Deserve A Second Look

When people imagine adopting a dog, they often picture a bouncy puppy or a young, energetic companion. But as we all know, dog charities and rescue centres also have plenty of older dogs, which may not always be as popular with potential adopters. 

These are the very dogs which caught the eye of Kate Lee, who founded the Senior Staffy Club for older Staffordshire Bull Terriers in 2012. With a background in dog rescue, Kate saw that older Staffies were often considered hard to rehome.

“Rescues would say, ‘Nobody will want a senior Staffy,’” Kate explains. “And that never sat right with me.”

She created a Facebook page to promote older Staffies already in rescue centres. Before long, other organisations began asking for help.

What began as a small, personal project has grown into a dedicated rescue with a committee of volunteers, a support network of over 100 people, and a reputation for doing what many others can’t: finding homes for senior Staffies who have long been overlooked.

So what are the common impediments to adoption?

• Age bias and the fear of “not having them long”
• Worries about vet bills
• Lingering breed stigma around Staffies
• Competition from younger dogs without existing health conditions  

Kate has seen friendly, well-behaved Staffies repeatedly passed over and forced to spend years in kennels, just because they were older. “We had one dog who’d been in kennels for six years elsewhere,” she says. “He was rehomed with us within six months.” Now the organisation typically rehomes some 40 or more dogs each year.

The keys to success in rehoming older dogs

By specialising in older Staffies, the Club knows people who approach them already know what they’re looking for. They understand the breed, the age, and the commitment, which makes all the difference. 

Any dog which comes in for rehoming is brought first into the Club’s kennels for assessment and vet checks.

If the dog seems straightforward and in good shape, the rehoming process may begin very quickly. Applicants complete an application, have a conversation with the adoption team, and are checked for suitability. 

“We are open and honest about our dogs and the issues they may have and the home they may fit into,” stresses Kate. “One family may not be the best fit for one dog, but a better fit for another - it pays to be a little bit patient. Our only hard rule is we don’t home older dogs in homes where there is a child younger than five.”

The Club also has a dedicated group of foster homes to take in any dog which is rather unwell, or has any behavioural issue. “This fantastic team of regular fosterers take dogs for a short time or for as long as needed - that’s a hard job but so important,” says Kate.

Good communications and social media, plus a good follow up service with adopters, are also vitally important. “Our social media team are volunteers and do a great job. It’s vital that dogs are introduced and promoted and there’s interesting content that really shows their personalities — and the follow up posts to say “We did it, we found the perfect home!”

While senior dogs may need more veterinary care, Kate believes planning the right insurance and setting money aside can make senior ownership manageable. The Club’s dogs are also fortunate to enter their new homes with five weeks of Agria insurance free of charge in their adoption packs: “It’s brilliant for people adopting older pets,” says Kate. “It gives them reassurance for five weeks and time to investigate insurance options after that.”

Advantages of adopting an older dog

Anyone who’s loved a Staffy knows they’re full of character. Kate describes them as “little humans”, affectionate, expressive, and deeply loyal. While younger Staffies are famously energetic, senior Staffies often strike a perfect balance between playfulness and calm.

“Older Staffies have lived in homes before, they know the routine, and they settle quickly,” is Kate’s assessment. 

It’s also worth remembering that:

• They’re usually house-trained
• They’ve already lived in family homes
• They settle faster than younger dogs
• They don’t need constant stimulation

And despite the word “senior”, many still enjoy walks, playtime, and family life well into their later years.  

Though Kate often meets adopters who worry that they won’t have the dog for as long as they'd like, she points out: “The truth is, you never know with any dog.” Some dogs adopted at 10 or 11 go on to live happily for many more years. What older dogs offer is emotional certainty. Their personalities are already formed, and what you see is truly what you get.

Homes which are a great fit for an older dog

Senior dogs aren’t just for retired owners. In reality, they can suit a wide range of lifestyles:

• People working from home
• Families with older children
• Flat dwellers
• People with limited mobility
• Anyone looking for a calm, loyal companion

A great message to share with potential adopter is that adopting a senior dog doesn’t just change their life, it often changes yours. You’re giving comfort, stability, and love to a dog who may have already experienced loss. In return, you receive loyalty, companionship, and the knowledge that their later years are safe and happy. “They’ve still got so much to give,” Kate says. “People just need to see them as an option.”

So the message to someone considering rescue is don’t overlook the dogs with grey muzzles and gentle eyes. They may not need as much exercise, but they’ll love just as deeply. Senior dogs aren’t a compromise. They’re a privilege.