Though Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month soon comes to a close, the need for more homes for senior pets persists.
Older animals are frequently the last adoptable pets left waiting, while younger shelter mates more easily find forever homes. Joey Teixeira, manager of client relations at the ASPCA Onyx and Breezy Shefts Adoption Center in Manhattan, tells Mashable that many prospective pet owners aren't aware of the benefits of owning a senior animal.
"Their personality is formed as an adult, so you're not in for any surprises," he explains. "They are typically a lot calmer -- they don't have that young kitten energy or that puppy energy which could lead to training them easier because they're better able to focus."
Teixeira says many of the cats cared for at the Adoption Center were transported from other shelters, while others were rescued strays taken off the street. The center will also take in animals from owners who are no longer able to care for their pets. Many senior animals will have lived in a home before coming to the shelter.
Mashable dropped by the adoption center to meet a few of the shelter's most eligible senior felines.
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