AGEISM IN ANIMAL RESCUES AND SHELTERS

Imagine walking into an animal shelter or contacting a rescue organization because you want to give a homeless dog or cat a loving home.

You are financially stable. You own your home or have secure housing. You have the time to devote to an animal. You understand the responsibilities of pet ownership. You have experience caring for animals and, perhaps, years of experience loving them.

But then you are told:

“We don't adopt to anyone over 65.”

For many older adults, this is a heartbreaking reality.

Age-based adoption policies exist at some rescues and shelters because organizations are concerned about what will happen to an animal if an older adopter becomes seriously ill, becomes incapacitated, or dies.

Those concerns are understandable.

But automatically denying someone the opportunity to adopt solely because of their age can be unfair, discriminatory, and unnecessarily deprive both people and animals of something they desperately need:

companionship.

The Need for Companionship Doesn't End at 65

In fact, for many people, the years after 65 can be among the most important times in life to have a pet.

Children may have grown up and moved away. Careers may have ended. Retirement may mean spending more time at home. Friends and family members may have moved or passed away. Life can become quieter.

A pet can bring companionship, affection, routine, activity, purpose, and joy.

A dog encourages its owner to get outside and take a walk. A cat provides companionship and a comforting presence in the home. Pets give their owners someone to care for, greet, talk to, and love.

For someone who lives alone, the presence of a pet can make a house feel like home.

Why should the very people who may benefit so greatly from companionship be automatically excluded from adopting an animal simply because of their age?

Age alone does not tell you whether someone will be a responsible, loving, or capable pet owner.

Age Does Not Determine a Person's Ability to Care for a Pet

There is an enormous difference between age and ability.

A healthy, active 68-year-old may be perfectly capable of caring for a dog.

A 72-year-old may have more financial resources, time, experience, and stability than someone decades younger.

A 75-year-old may have owned and cared for dogs and cats throughout their entire life.

Meanwhile, a younger person may have an unpredictable schedule, unstable housing, limited financial resources, or little experience with animals.

Yet an arbitrary age cutoff can treat the older applicant as automatically unsuitable.

That doesn't necessarily make sense.

Perhaps the better question isn't:

“How old are you?”

Perhaps the better questions are:

“Are you capable of caring for this animal?”

“Do you have the financial resources to provide appropriate care?”

“Is your housing appropriate for the pet?”

“Do you have a plan for the animal if your circumstances change?”

Those questions address the actual issue.

The Concern About “What Happens If Something Happens to You?”

This is where the conversation becomes especially important.

Rescues and shelters may worry that an older adopter could die or become unable to care for the animal, leaving the pet without a home.

That concern is legitimate.

But here's the important point:

This isn't exclusively an older person's problem.

An accident, serious illness, disability, or unexpected death can happen to a 25-year-old, a 45-year-old, or a 65-year-old.

No one knows exactly how long they will live.

So instead of using age as a substitute for planning, why not ask potential adopters whether they have a plan for their pet's future?

That approach shifts the conversation from age to responsibility.

What If Pet Owners Could Prove They Have a Plan?

Imagine if an older adult applying to adopt could say:

“Yes, I understand your concern. I have a will and/or trust that specifically addresses my pet. I have identified a caregiver. I have discussed the arrangement with that person. I have made financial provisions for my pet's continued care. I have written instructions about my pet's medical history, veterinarian, diet, medications, daily routine, and preferences. And I have a backup plan if my first caregiver cannot take responsibility.”

Wouldn't that provide considerably more reassurance than simply knowing the person's age?

This is one of the reasons Perpetual Care exists.

This Is Why Perpetual Care Exists

The purpose of Perpetual Care is to help pet owners think beyond today.

We love our pets. We make plans for their food, veterinary appointments, grooming, medications, exercise, training, and daily care.

But responsible pet ownership also means asking:

“What happens to my pet if I can no longer care for them?”

That question is especially important for older adults who may face unnecessary barriers to adoption because of their age.

A comprehensive plan can help demonstrate that adopting a pet isn't an impulsive decision.

It is a commitment.

A pet owner can take steps to establish a plan for the animal's continued care in the event of incapacity or death. Depending on the individual's circumstances and state law, this may include a will, a pet trust, or other estate-planning arrangements.

And planning shouldn't stop with simply naming someone.

The prospective caregiver should know about the arrangement and, ideally, agree to take responsibility for the pet.

The plan should also address financial resources and the practical details necessary to maintain the pet's quality of life.

A Will Can Help Make Your Wishes Known

One important step is including your pets in your estate plan.

A will can provide instructions concerning your wishes for your pet and identify the person you would like to care for the animal, subject to applicable state law.

It can also help communicate your wishes about the financial resources you want to make available for your pet's care.

However, pet owners should understand that a will may not address every aspect of ongoing pet care. A will generally takes effect at death, while incapacity can occur during a person's lifetime.

That's why a broader estate plan may be appropriate.

A Pet Trust Can Provide Additional Protection

Depending on the state and individual circumstances, a pet trust may provide additional planning options for the ongoing care of an animal.

A pet trust can be designed to address matters such as:

• Who will care for the pet

• How funds will be used for the pet's care

• Veterinary and medical needs

• Food and daily care

• Living arrangements

• The standard of care the owner wants maintained

• Who will oversee the use of funds

• What happens if the primary caregiver can no longer serve

The exact requirements and legal effectiveness of these arrangements vary by state, so anyone considering a pet trust should consult a qualified estate-planning attorney.

But the fundamental concept is powerful:

Instead of asking people to trust that you have a plan, you can create a plan that demonstrates your commitment to your pet's future.

A Will or Trust Can Help Older Adults Push Back Against Age-Based Assumptions

If a rescue or shelter has an age-based adoption policy, an older applicant may understandably feel that there is nothing they can do.

But one way to challenge the underlying concern is to demonstrate preparedness.

If an organization is worried about what happens to the pet if the adopter dies or becomes incapacitated, an applicant who has a comprehensive plan for the animal's future can address that concern directly.

An older prospective adopter can say, in essence:

“Don't judge my ability to provide a loving home based solely on my age. Judge me on my ability to care for this animal today—and the plan I have made for tomorrow.”

A properly prepared will and/or pet trust that specifically addresses the pet can help demonstrate that the applicant has considered the animal's long-term welfare.

It doesn't guarantee that a rescue or shelter will change its policy, and legal documents cannot force an organization to adopt to someone. But it can give responsible older adults a meaningful way to demonstrate that they have taken the very concern behind the policy seriously.

Don't Punish Responsible People for Something That Might Happen

There is an uncomfortable irony in age-based adoption restrictions.

Many older adults have spent decades demonstrating that they know how to care for animals.

They may have years of experience with dogs, cats, birds, horses, or other companion animals. They may have the time and resources to provide exceptional care.

Yet they can be denied because of something that might happen in the future.

The same logic could be applied to almost anyone.

A 30-year-old could die unexpectedly.

A 40-year-old could become seriously ill.

A 50-year-old could suffer a disabling accident.

The possibility of something happening to the owner is not unique to older adults.

The solution should be responsible planning—not blanket assumptions based on age.

Rescues and Shelters Have a Responsibility, Too

Animal shelters and rescue organizations have an incredibly difficult mission.

They are trying to find safe, permanent homes for animals who may have already experienced abandonment, neglect, abuse, or instability.

It is understandable that they want to minimize the possibility that an adopted animal will have to return to the shelter.

But protecting animals shouldn't require automatically excluding an entire group of potential adopters.

Perhaps the better solution is to develop adoption policies that evaluate the individual and the circumstances.

Instead of relying solely on an age cutoff, organizations could consider:

• The applicant's physical ability to care for the particular animal

• Financial ability to provide appropriate care

• Housing stability

• Previous pet ownership experience

• The age and activity level of the animal

• The applicant's support system

• A designated backup caregiver

• A documented estate plan or pet-care plan

• Whether the applicant has made arrangements for the pet in case of incapacity or death

A 70-year-old applying to adopt a senior cat may present an entirely different situation from a 70-year-old applying to adopt a highly active young dog.

One-size-fits-all policies don't always account for the individual animal or the individual adopter.

Older Pets Deserve Older Adopters, Too

There is another troubling consequence of strict age-based adoption policies.

Older adults may be particularly well suited to adopting senior pets.

Senior animals are often overlooked in shelters and rescues. They may spend longer waiting for homes than younger animals.

Yet a senior dog or cat may be an excellent companion for someone whose lifestyle is quieter and less active.

An older adult and a senior pet can potentially provide something very valuable to each other:

companionship.

Both deserve the opportunity to be evaluated as individuals.

Let's Change the Conversation

The conversation shouldn't be:

“You're over 65, so you can't adopt.”

It should be:

“Tell us about your ability to care for this animal and your plan for its future.”

That is a much more meaningful conversation.

It respects the concerns of the rescue or shelter while also respecting the dignity and capabilities of the potential adopter.

And it recognizes an important reality:

Age is not a plan.

A person's age tells you very little about whether they are capable of caring for a pet.

A person's plan tells you much more.

If You Are an Older Adult Who Wants to Adopt, Plan Ahead

If you are an older adult and have encountered an age restriction while trying to adopt, don't assume that you have nothing to offer.

You may have tremendous love, experience, time, stability, and resources to give an animal.

Consider creating a comprehensive plan for your pet's future.

Talk with an estate-planning attorney about whether a will, pet trust, or combination of planning tools is appropriate for you. Identify a person who could care for your pet if you become unable to do so. Discuss the arrangement with that person. Consider a backup caregiver. Set aside appropriate financial resources. Document your pet's veterinary information, medications, diet, routine, and other important needs.

Then keep your plan current.

Planning for your pet isn't an admission that you are too old to have one.

It is evidence that you are responsible enough to think about the pet's entire lifetime.

Perpetual Care: Planning for the Love That Doesn't End

This is precisely why Perpetual Care exists.

The goal isn't to encourage people to think about what could go wrong.

It is to help them prepare for what matters most.

We cannot predict the future. We cannot promise that we will always be healthy, able-bodied, or here to care for our pets.

But we can plan.

And when we plan, we can provide our pets with something incredibly important:

continuity.

Continuity of care.

Continuity of love.

Continuity of the life they know.

No one should have to give up the possibility of pet companionship simply because they have reached a certain age. And no pet should miss out on a loving home simply because an organization assumes something might happen to its prospective owner.

The answer isn't to pretend that life's uncertainties don't exist.

The answer is to plan for them.

A will. A pet trust. A designated caregiver. A backup caregiver. Financial resources. Written instructions. A conversation with the people who will step in if you cannot.

These are the building blocks of responsible pet ownership.

And they can help change the conversation from:

“You're too old to adopt.”

to:

“You've shown us that you have a plan to care for this pet for its entire life.”

Because Love Shouldn't Have an Expiration Date

A person's age should not automatically determine whether they are capable of loving and caring for an animal.

And a pet shouldn't lose the opportunity for a loving home because of an arbitrary number.

If you are capable of providing a loving home today and have responsibly planned for your pet's tomorrow, your age should not be the only thing that defines you as a pet owner.

That is the promise behind Perpetual Care:

Plan for your pet's future. Protect the bond you share. Give yourself—and your pet—the peace of mind that comes from knowing there is a plan.

Note: Estate-planning laws and requirements vary by state. A will or pet trust should be prepared with appropriate professional advice based on your individual circumstances and applicable law. This article is intended for general educational purposes and is not legal advice.