November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, a time dedicated to reminding people that all pets are equally deserving of a loving forever home, regardless of life stage. Senior pets are often overlooked since potential owners tend to consider them a bigger challenge than a younger companion animal, or an imminent heartbreak if they are near the end of their life. The truth is that senior pets are fully capable of offering the same amount of fun, excitement, unconditional love and loyalty as a puppy or kitten (which offer their own sets of challenges when it comes to care and training).
The Messenger has compiled a list of senior pet families who have found supportive communities online, full of followers who appreciate the value of providing the utmost quality of life for older furry family members.
13-year-old Chihuahua mix Lil Hobbs was found wobbling around New York City before he found his forever family, with whom he has been living his best life for the last seven years.
Hobbs’ human, Kathryn, rescued him from NYC-based Tails of Love and began posting his journey on Instagram in 2016. The family then moved to San Diego, Calif., where Hobbs spends his time napping with his two cat siblings, relaxing in his baby sling, venturing outdoors in his stroller, and going to hydrotherapy.
Kathryn documents Hobbs’ life with friends and family, funny photoshop creations, adventures floating in the pool and more. Kathryn also has a website for followers to browse Hobbs’ favorite pet products, as well as personalized items including Lil Hobbs plushies, stickers, mugs and more, and she utilizes her presence to depict the benefits of of giving a second chance to senior dogs.
Steve Greig has not one, not two, not three, but 10 senior dogs (in addition to a pet pig, chicken and turkey).
Greig has been posting photos of his pets online for the last decade, and over that time has opened his Colorado home to a variety of breeds, double-digit ages and physical ailments from different states all over the US including Puerto Rico, and has garnered one million followers who love keeping up with his elderly rescues.
The pack currently consists of Cat the dog, Juanita, Fernando, Onion, Mr. Magoo, Raylene, Willamena, Loretta, Festus and Chalmer. Greig also uses his platform to showcase his work on the board of Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary. He is the coauthor of the children's book The One and Only Wolfgang, which serves as a guide for welcoming and caring for senior pets.
Comedian Joe Gatto has long been outspoken about his love for senior dogs. The Impractical Jokers star has opened his home to many older pups over the years, notably naming them after beloved Italian dishes and deserts, featuring them in his comedy material and on episodes of the hit hidden-camera series.
Currently living in the Gatto home are Gnocchi, Fettuccine and Alfredo, Tortoni, Struffoli, Cotta, Napoleon, Spumoni, Tartufo, Biscotti and Cannoli. Gatto and his wife recently created Gatto Pups and Friends, a non-profit organization working to care and find loving homes for senior dogs and those with disabilities and health conditions. Gatto is the author of The Dogfather: My Love of Dogs, Desserts and Growing up Italian.
Loki is an 11-year-old wolfdog whose human, Kelly Lund, began chronicling their adventures together through photography in 2013. Lund always had an affinity for nature, and he happily brings Loki and his brother, Raven, along on the journey.
Now, with two million followers between Instagram and Facebook, Lund and his pack try to inspire their followers to explore the world and create meaningful memories with their dogs. Loki is the face of his own products including calendars, pet CBD products, travel accessories and more for dogs and people alike.
Zero — full name Zero Marie Hussein Corgibutt — is a 12-year-old corgi who often takes advantage of the weather in her sunny home state of California, where she has spent most of her life exploring sandy beaches, lounging in the pool, enjoying mountain views and grassy parks.
Zero and her parents are also self-proclaimed Nightmare Before Christmas enthusiasts — hence her being named after Jack Skellington’s ghost pup — and frequently share snapshots of their family holiday festivities.
The Kardoggians (a play on the Kardashian name but not connected to the family or their empire) is an Instagram page dedicated to senior rescue dogs living in NYC.
It began with Chloe, a chihuahua who had multiple homes before finding her forever family at nearly 10 years old with her mom, Dorie Herman, who said she started the account to allow Chloe’s former family to keep up with her in 2014. The tiny pup went viral for her candid photos and silly faces that showed off her personality and often included sticking out her little pink tongue. Herman then eventually added senior dog Cupid to the family.
In 2018, Chloe sadly passed away, and in what Herman believed to be fate, she ended up rescuing another senior dog named Kimchi. Kimchi and Cupid both died in 2022, before Tammy Faye Barker was welcomed to the family of rescues. Herman continues to use her platform to share joyful memories and keep alive the spirit of all of the dogs she has opened her heart and home to over the years, and especially to continue advocating for senior pet adoption and resources.
Ella’s username describes exactly what she first became famous for — watching TV. And she doesn’t just look at the screen. Ella, who was rescued by her humans, Emily and Maurice, when she was 10 and is now 14, is a cartoon devotee. She has become known for her signature head tilt, the undivided attention with which she watches, and actively requiring her mom to turn on her favorite content by seeking her out no matter where she is, chirping and meowing until she is comfortably binge-watching a show or movie in the living room. Some of Ella’s current favorites include Bluey and Oswald, and her ultimate pick is the 2018 animated How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
In addition to these cute and quirky habits, Emily also shares insights to how sweet and affectionate Ella is, as well as her tumultuous history. The domestic short-hair spent the first 10 years of her life in and out of different homes and shelters before finding her forever family, so Emily uses this opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of not neglecting or overlooking senior pets.
Ginny was rescued when she was 13, and her family doesn’t have much information about her history beyond what the shelter told them: Ginny was surrendered to them twice — the first time flea-infested, and the second time given up by her owner of eight years. Now 15 years old, Ginny’s fans love her distinctive facial features, fluffy coat and coloring, but they love her personality even more.
Despite being displaced a few times, Ginny’s photos and videos prove that she is just as playful and loving as any cat of any age, and she shares her comfortable home with a younger cat brother and human baby sister.
MK was adopted at 10 years old by Brittany Ann, who offers a glimpse into how fulfilling life can be with a senior cat. Most of Brittany’s videos show heartwarming moments between herself and MK, who exudes tenderness and is often purring and rubbing her head against her mom’s, soaking in all of the cuddles and kisses.
Brittany's poignant videos convey the rewards of adopting a senior cat. Despite being abandoned, infested, and moved from shelter to shelter, MK, still radiates boundless love.Brittany’s emotionally moving videos send messages to followers about how rewarding adopting a senior cat can be — exemplified by the fact that, despite being abandoned on the street, infested with fleas and worms, moved from one shelter to the next and kept in a cage because she didn’t get along with other cats, MK still has endless love to give. Brittany describes MK as “emotionally intelligent,” and often captures the cat vocalizing and using body language seemingly to communicate with and offer support as the family enjoys a calm, slow, quiet life together.
Mike the orange cat is a fighter, to say the least. The 15 year old was rescued from the streets of France with what was at the time a massive, nearly fatal neck wound and infection in 2018. He was first rescued and taken to a shelter which rushed him to a veterinarian, who concluded that Mike was extremely malnourished and underweight. There was discussion about euthanizing Mike, but one of the vets sensed he wanted to live, according to Mike's mom, Nathalie, so that doctor fostered Mike for awhile and nursed him back to health. Nathalie learned about Mike that same year, and said she immediately felt connected to him since she herself is disabled and was adopted as a child.
Now, Mike still wears scarves around his neck to protect his wound, and he lives with feline immunodeficiency virus, but he is as comfortable and as happy as ever. Even though Mike has persisting opthalmic health issues, his eyes are very soulful and emotive. He loves bananas (especially playing with the peels), as well a variety of other fruits and vegetables, and he actually seems to love taking his medications. Mike's followers are inspired by his endearing demeanor, energy and zest for life in the face of all the challenges he has overcome.
