A lot of retirees end up getting a pet when they retire, and it makes sense! Once you retire you have more time and energy that you’re probably hoping to put into something, and what’s better than a furry friend?
But not all pets are created equal (not all retirees are created equal either), and there are a lot of anecdotes about retirees getting a pet they couldn’t handle and it leading to issues down the round.
Why Should I get a Pet?
Pets provide routine and stability. They help reduce loneliness and lower stress. They help you find focus and direction and are a vessel for you to pour your energy into. Pets love retirees because, well, retirees are around more. Animals in shelters are often pretty lonely, animals at a retirees house are usually babied.
Am I Ready for a Pet?
If you are really interested in getting a pet and are ready to take on that responsibility, then the answer is an obvious yes. But, if you travel a lot or are iffy on the responsibility, then maybe now isn’t the right time for a pet.
That might sound a little obvious, but when I interviewed retirees, a lot of the ones who had pets said they wished they could travel more, but felt guilty leaving their pet alone, (several even asked if I could watch their dogs/cats) and a few said that they hoped their dog would be a great traveling partner only to find out that it hates to drive.
You really need to think about this ahead of time. For example, one of my family members got a dog who is really anxious about being left alone, so she has to take him with her whenever she goes to visit her grandson and she said that “it’s a lot of work,” but ultimately that she “doesn’t regret it.”
Run through these scenarios in your head before getting a pet and think about what the right choice is for you! Additionally, consider mobility/health factors. If you plan to live in a group living situation, do they allow pets? If you do need to travel or go away, do you have someone to watch them? And if you get a more active pet, will you have the energy/time to walk and train it?
Once you have those answers, you’ll know if a pet is right for you.
Where do I get one?
Adopting a pet is really easy and there’s continuously a great need at many local shelters. For our San Diego retirees you can’t go wrong with the SD Humane Society. They have dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits/other rodents, birds, and well… even horses.
You can search available pets here: https://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/ this is a great place to start, but just know you cannot judge a book or a dog by its cover. You need to go into the shelter and meet them first!
Something I learned while researching is that most dogs and cats end up in a shelter because their owner had to move, not because of the pet’s behavior. With a lot of rent issues in SD lately, there’s been a huge surge in surrendered cats and dogs, which is just another reason to adopt!
There are dozens of other adoption agencies in San Diego, if you choose to go somewhere other than the SD Humane Society make sure that you’re going somewhere non-profit and non-kill.
Note: If you’re getting a reptile, bird, fish, or a rodent, obviously it’s a lot harder to choose adoption. But you should definitely look around.
What kind of Pet should I get?
Now this is the question I have heard the most for retirees who were looking for pets. What kind of pet, and if it’s a dog, which breed?
Think about your lifestyle and what you’re looking for. There are some pets who require a lot of effort on your end, like a dog or a cat, and then there are others who you just need to feed and clean, like a fish or a lizard. Then there are birds. Which are kind of a mixed bag.
Once you’ve narrowed down species, you really don’t have that much control on the different breeds of animals, since, well, you’re limited by what’s available. So, I highly suggest you go to the shelter and meet the animals and get a feel for what they’re about. Talk with staff members and tell them what you’re looking for in a pet. Do you want a couch potato? Or someone a little more active? They should definitely be able to help you out!
Are there any Breeds of Dogs I should aim for?
If you’re not looking for a dog feel free to skip this section. There are some helpful links below, but otherwise this is the end of the article.
Alright, dog people. I’m going to say something controversial. Breed doesn’t matter. I think when you’re looking at a dog, you need to look at energy, age, and size more than anything. If you get caught up on wanting a spaniel or a basset hound, you’re going to miss out on a lot of dogs that you might love. If you disagree with that, that’s OK, but I highly recommend you pay attention to the other three factors too.
There is of course, an exception to this rule, and that’s health. Some breeds are healthier than others. As much as I love bulldogs and highly recommend adopting one if you want a snoring warm lump to sit on your feet, they are prone to nasal and spine issues. Smaller dogs are often at a higher risk for respiratory issues and larger dogs usually have some hip issues by the time they’re 9-10 years old. So if you’re gung ho on a breed of dog, just do some research ahead of time to see what sort of health issues it might have.
Personalities and temperament really vary from dog to dog. Medium/big dogs tend to need longer walks and have more energy, but that doesn’t mean your smaller dogs don’t need to be getting exercise!
As for age, younger dogs are more trainable, but have way more energy. Older dogs might have some bad habits they need to kick, but are usually more self-sufficient and can be just as trainable, it just might take a bit more time.
From what I’ve heard, a lot of retirees love getting a puppy and taking it in as a project and that definitely seems like a great call. A few of the retirees I talked with recommended adopting older dogs because someone has to adopt them and they tend to be very relaxed.
I think it’s hard to make generalizations and really suggest you take some time to get to know any dog before you adopt it. Shelters usually require you to make two trips to meet the dog before they’ll let you adopt it (that way you’re not being impulsive).
If you still want to be more breed specific, you can check out this quiz designed by the AKC
https://www.akc.org/breed-selector-tool/
From there you should be ready to go! But if you’re still apprehensive, there are a lot of great resources out there you can check out:
A 70 Year Old’s Story of adopting a Dog