Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month Begins at Montclair Animal Shelter

November is Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month at the Montclair Township Animal Shelter, a time where the shelter will charge half-price to adopt older animals. 

“Some of the sweetest, most-loving animals we have living at the shelter are senior animals, and they arrive here through no fault of their own,” shelter coordinator Melissa Neiss said. “Often they end up here because something has befallen their owner.” 

While most adopters are looking for a younger pet to grow with their family, young animals require hours of training. 

Senior pets, however, are already housebroken, are fully grown and have settled into their personalities. 

In addition, studies show owning a pet can provide health benefits to seniors, including lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety and loneliness. 

The shelter is currently in the planning stages of reaching out to senior adopters in Montclair, but also including seniors in Bloomfield, Verona, the Caldwells, the Oranges and Belleville, to make it easier for the animal and adult to spend their later years together. 

The goal is to build a network of volunteers who can assist the senior with pet care, (while checking in on both the animal and owner’s well-being), provide donated pet food if needed, and to have some local vets and pet service providers sign on to offer a discount on their services to these senior adopters. 

Montclair Township Animal Shelter is located at 77 N. Willow St., near the Walnut Street Station. 

Hours are Tuesday 2-6 p.m., Wednesday 2-4 p.m., Friday through Sunday 2-4 p.m.  Off day/hour appointments are available by contacting the shelter at (973) 744-8600 or mtas77@verizon.net. 

All adoptable pets are spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations.

For more information or to view adoptable animals, please visit mtas.petfinder.com.