70 is not too old if the person is able to care for the dog physically. In fact many shelters adopt out older dogs to seniors for free, it benefits them both.

Agreed. Also, it is important to have arrangements in place for your pets in case anything sudden happens to take you away from them. I am 65, DH is 71 and our son is close by, so we don't need to worry. However, our local shelter often puts out notices about dogs needing homes after their owners died.

I would suggest an older dog to her if she can afford it.

Maybe she feels it's too much work for her at her age. I'm 57 and wouldn't have a pet. Mind you, I'm soooooooooooooo not a pet person. They're way more work than 12 toddlers. lol Maybe she just knows, she doesn't have the energy to walk the dog daily, clean poop and feed all the time. It's good to know that someone knows their limits when it comes to owning a pet.

Agree with Debby. The shelters are full of pets from people that felt pressured to get one when they knew deep inside (or discovered) they were not willing or able to care for pet. HST, it seems the benefits way outnumber the chores, but that's just me and not judging those who disagree.

You might want to suggest that your neighbor consider contacting rescue organizations about fostering dogs for them. A dog would stay with her for a few weeks and move on to its permanent home.

Agree with Debby as well. It's always wonderful to see a pet in need of a loving and responsible home find one but I'm also glad to see when someone knows their limits and chooses not to have a pet.

My Mom was a huge dog lover but avoided getting one during her later years. Her feelings were that she had been a care taker her entire adult life and it felt good to be free from that. Just as she did with the grandkids, she opted instead to enjoy our dogs instead.

Too old is when you can no longer care properly for the pet, especially with a dog. Cats are much more self sufficient and generally do not require much beyond food, a litter box and a cuddle when they allow it :-) Dogs need daily walking or other exercise and also some socialization with others of their kind and often some routine grooming attention.

I might not consider a puppy and all of their constant demands - like little kids - as appropriate for an aging person but an adult rescue dog with no strange behavioral issues would be fine. And tending for and being able to devote love and attention on a pet has been well established to reduce many age-related issues for older adults, not to mention the benefit of the companionship they provide.

I am not yet 70 but getting closer every day and I would never NOT consider having a pet as long as I was able to care for it. If you cannot care for the basic needs of a pet, I would wonder how well one could properly care for themselves!!

Some folks have interesting attitudes about aging. AFAIC, the less you focus on aging and what you can no longer do and remain mentally and physically active, then 70 is nothing!! My brother will be 79 this year and still plays handball every Saturday morning. He is only semi retired from his own business and is out and about meeting people and interacting on a daily basis. My sister is in her mid 70's, travels frequently to visit the grands and friends across the country, works out at the gym 3-4 times a week, volunteers at various organizations and is an active ceramic artist with her own studio! I am the baby but rapidly approaching my 7th decade and run my own business and travel extensively for it. I also teach and give horticultural presentations to various gardening organizations. Age is just as much a state of mind as it is actual years and the more you focus on being "young" and active, the more likely you are to remain so!!

If she did not want to own, she could foster a pet. Albeit many who foster end up adopting the pet. However, fostering is great for the shelter/rescue, the pet, and future adopters; it allows the pets personality to be determined, something often hard to do in a shelter setting. Most shelters cover the cost of any needed vet care and some even provide food.

If a dog is too much work, maybe a cat would be a better choice.

If she does not want to adopt or foster, has she considered volunteering at a rescue/shelter?

I think pet ownership is especially valuable for people as they age, who often feel lonely, as it provides companionship and unconditional love.

I got a puppy at the ageof 72. Georgy is 8 now.........gives me a reason to hang in there for at least 6 more years because she needs me. However, I do have a back-up plan....if anything should happen to me and DH, my son will see her through the remaining years. I can't imagine being without a dog. If Georgy should cross the rainbow bridge before anticipated, I will probably seek an older dog at the shelter.

Oh, I hope there isn't an age limit! We don't have a pet right now, but in 15-20 years I can definitely see having one again, if we're physically able. My friend is convinced that his Dad lived a few extra years because he had a dog. His wife had died, and the dog provided companionship and a reason to get outside and walk several times a day.

A former neighbor had had Airedales all his life. His wife died shortly after he'd gotten a new dog. When that dog died, he got another. However, as he approached 90, he worried that another Airedale would outlive him, as he was becoming more infirm. He did get another dog -- and hired a full-time caretaker. He -- and the dog -- lived another ten years.

After 50 years of dogs, I'm done with pets, at least for as long as I have my DH!

Our last dog was a Westie rescue, a puppy mill dog and 'not made right' -- a constant expense for 15 years. I cannot justify ever again spending that much money on 'a pet'. The "Dog" line in my budget has been split between savings and charities that meet basic human needs.

Our animal shelter charges only $7 for a dog adoption if the person is at least 70 and the dog is at least 7. So I think your neighbor is mistaken. Perhaps she has other issues that make dog ownership difficult for her.

I think she's thinking that the dog will out-live her. Even now hubby and I sometimes mention about getting another young cat. We do have our 2, but still fall in love when we see one at pet stores for adoption.

I was talking to my 80 yr old neighbour yesterday and she mentioned that she and her ex-husband had a parrot. He was 10 when they got him, and he now lives with her son, and he's now 25. A parrot is something you don't want to get when you're older! LOL.

My sister was 72 when she got Fred. She passed away 4 years later and he came to live with me. My other sister is 82 and lost her dog a couple of months ago and is wanting to get another one. She wants a small adult dog. She is in good shape so the dog will be fine for many years and even if something should happen to her, there are enough people in our family willing to take the pet left behind. I think it all depends on a person's circumstances. It is so wonderful, though, that people will consider getting adult dogs instead of puppies. That wasn't always the case. And older people taking pets from others that have passed is especially poignant in that it keeps the pet in a home environment and safe. Good stuff!

I wouldn't be getting a parrot. My daughter always thought she'd inherit our Gray and I was young when I had him. He died at 25. Husband and I are seniors in our 70's and have five animals ( one cat just died a few months ago) three cats, two dogs, two koi ponds, a beehive and betta fish. I would never not ever not have at least one pet. In fact, the Maine Coon was rescued by me last October from the street. Husband long retired from real job works for many years at a golf course and in the winter a ski resort. I walk/run five miles a day so we're able for now.

Daily exercise is as important as food for a dog to be happy and healthy. Besides the physical benefits, it also provides mental stimulation and variety to the day. My concern about dogs with oldsters is that many aren't spry enough to provide that need. At the other end of the leash, so to speak, is a study a few years ago that found owning a dog lengthened the life expectancy of humans in the household, for a variety of reasons including stress reduction but also including the physical activity dog walking provided compared to people who didn't have a dog to walk.

Dogs don't thrive when given a coach potato existence. It's something to think about.

I'm 70, and have had my parrot Joey for 19 years. He was a baby when he came to me and he's a great companion. If he outlives me, my daughter has instructions.

My MIL got a puppy when she was 80. Now she is 86 and the dog is 6 and she walks the dog every single morning with a group of seniors and it has really done her a lot of good. Her health has improved. She never used to walk a step, just sit in front of the TV. There is a plan in place for her oldest granddaughter to eventually take the dog if need arises. The granddaughter is a very responsible person with a stable life and family, so the dog will likely be just fine.

Then of course you have the case where the elderly owner dies without a good plan for the pet, and the pet gets dumped or euthanized. That happened in the case of my Aunt. Her son took her healthy cat and took it right to the vet for euthanization.

I would say if the person can plan wisely for the pet's future, why not have one? If solid plans cannot be made, one could perhaps be a foster home for a rescue organization for a while.

I have a godfather arrangement in place for my cat if anything happens to us. :0) But in the meantime he's spoiled rotton, well loved. Something you can do at any age.

We had furkids all of our lives until the last one died 3 years ago. I'll be 78 and hubby is 83. We felt we were too old to get another furkid as it would outlive us, but.....here we are now with two little kittens who are now 3 months old. A dear friend will take our babies when something happens to us. She encouraged us to get a kitten, knowing how much we love animals. I know we couldn't handle another dog, even an older one but the kittens have brought so much fun back into our lives and are not hard to take care of either.

I'll be 71 come September and I plant trees, use a chainsaw, and cut grass with a push mower among other things. I've got a 65 pound lab mix that keeps me company while I work and lets me know when someone comes on the property. I expect I will outlive him, and in my mind I'm making plans for another companion, for him as he ages and for me when he leaves.

I am 70, so is my husband, and we have a 10 year old pekingese.. He gives us so much joy, I hope I'm never too old to have a dog!

Age isn't a criterion. I know 30 somethings that run much slower on the treadmill than I do. In the summer my husband gets up at 4 to be at the golf course at 5. His parents didn't get a lick of exercise and died younger than he is now. My three miles with the dog does both of us good and we never miss a day. Since I adopted him over six years ago and have done this every day (only exception is ice) he had covered almost 6000 miles. Both my dogs are 9 and never had health problems. This walk strengthens the dachshund's back. The other dog goes with husband and both dogs weight the same year after year...26 pounds a piece. I have two animal loving kids and grandkids and I cannot imagine them giving away any of my pets if a truck killed us today.

If she's capable of taking care of a dog's needs, why not? Pets are known to keep us healthy and engaged in the world around us.

My biggest concern would be the pet outliving me, so I'd make sure to make arrangements for where it would go if something happened to me. It's the saddest thing to volunteer in an animal shelter and see a confused and scared dog or cat surrendered because the owner died and no one in the family wants the pet.

I'd also seriously consider adopting an older dog or cat. They have a much harder time finding homes than kittens and puppies and they are over all those destructive behaviors of kittens and puppies. Granted, older pets might have their own baggage, but I'd be willing to take that risk.

Something no one here has mentioned yet, cost of keeping a pet. It needs to be considered by anyone of any age that is thinking of adopting a pet. I gather from y'all's posts that budget is not a problem with most of you. And that is wonderful, I am very happy for you! But it can be a very big obstacle for many of us. I am in my late 70's, I love dogs, and have had at least one most of my life. I live alone, and would dearly love the company of a dog again. But I know what it costs to own one, shots, food, possible vet bills, etc. I'm not real sure I could provide all this on my fixed income. Prices of everything keep going up, but the fixed income is just that, fixed! It would be totally irresponsible to adopt a pet and not be able to provide its basic needs. So I don't adopt one.

So "too old" may not necessarily mean age and physical ability.

Rusty

We are both around that age and after 30 plus years being blessed with either one or two doggies at a time, we found ourselves without a pet. After much thought we decided to get a kitty and finally found an adorable 8 1/2 year old long haired kitty that was at our local shelter. According to the story her owner had become ill and had to enter a nursing home. We have enjoyed this kitty for a 1 1/2 years now and even though kittens are so cute older kitties need homes too and we love her to pieces. I would definitely recommend adopting an older pet for anyone.

@ Rusty, perhaps you missed my comment, "fostering... Most shelters cover the cost of any needed vet care and some even provide food."

I'm 66 and raising a very active, willful Rottie. I will raise one more puppy. It is about the energy. Working with her is one more thing that keeps me young. Training with younger, active people is inspiring and fun. Later I will probably adopt older dogs. I do know my children would always take my dog or dogs in however. No family dog of ours ever goes to a shelter.

I think fostering is wonderful for those who love dogs but can't commit to a forever dog for whatever reason.

Something else to consider is the size of the dog. Little dogs can be trip hazards for the elderly. A larger dog can be safer. It really depends on the individual situation.

There are ways to exercise a dog without walks if you have outdoor space. Even indoors. A dog that likes to fetch can be exercised from a sitting position. Ball launchers also make it easier if the need arises. Some breeds are couch potatoes by nature. They need minimal exercise as long as you don't overfeed.

That's a very good point, Rusty. I feel bad for you wanting a pet, yet not sure that it's feasible financially.

Our local animal shelter, in conjunction with a volunteer group that raises funds for just this purpose, helps seniors and others on fixed incomes with food and vet bills so that they are able to provide for their pets. If you haven't already, you might look into that in your area to see if there is a similar program.

Volunteering at your local animal shelter might be another option for you to get some contact with dogs. Volunteers are often needed to walk the dogs and to play with them in order to help them be socialized so that they are more adoptable.

Best wishes to you.

Our 2 cats are in our will and will go to DS1 with his blessing. I don't really want a dog but I can see getting one as we age for exercise and saying hi to people. I have been walking my nieces dog 3 days a week for the last two years just to help them out and honestly, I'm not sure who loves it more, me or the dog.

"Little dogs can be trip hazards for the elderly. A larger dog can be safer. It really depends on the individual situation."

Very true and good point. Little dogs can be a danger underfoot and far too many are yapping hazards too! (Spoken by a devoted lover of large dogs).

As the comments suggest, there are active seniors and less active and even inactive ones, sometimes by lifelong inclinations and sometimes because of medical limitations. All dogs need some level of exercise, some more than others, and a household's ability to provide that should be factored in to the decision of whether or not to have a dog. But it isn't always.

Rusty, I hope you get by okay. I understand that for low income people, money needs to be spent carefully but compared to other things that may be too expensive in such circumstances, I would think that deciding to avoid the costs of a pet is no different than deciding to avoid other things when prioritizing spending.

We are both 50 and we have two cats; when they die we will no longer have any animals. We travel too much plus we're tired of the hair, litter box, puke, etc.

To the OPs question, the answer to me has more to do with capability than age. Pets can provide great comfort and companionship. If you can afford one and provide ample care then I say go ahead, at any age.

One size does not fit all. Each person has to take in consideration all the things that matter when considering getting a dog at any age. There are financial, health, where you live, and family obligations to think about.

We are both 65, still young enough but have health problems. We have a 16 YO Dachshund and when she goes, that is it when it comes to pets. I have Parkinson's and with an older dog it has become more difficult. She is a tripping hazard and because of my disease I have almost fallen a lot of times. She likes to be next to me at all times.

She can't help getting under my feet as she is almost completely blind and deaf and has arthritis. She is on medication but still can't do stairs, even the 3 out front. It is very difficult for me to carry her up and down the stairs. DH has put railings by all the stairs and it helps but is not a guarantee against falling or dropping her. DH can't be around all the time, we have 2.5 acres to take care of, and she has to go out every 2 hours.

And then there is the financial end of it. We have spent thousands on her over the last 16 years and I love her so much I would do it again, but I don't want to have another 'money pit' pet. You never know what you are going to get.

I would love to get another dog someday, but I feel it is not practical for us. I would like to volunteer at the SPCA, like I did when we were between dogs before, but they probably won't let me because of my Parkinson's. I couldn't do fostering because I would grow too attached and wouldn't want to give them up and there is all the reasons above. And also we are considering moving into a condo in the next 5 years, so it might be against the rules to have a dog.

There are many reasons not to get a dog as you age. It doesn't mean you don't want to do so, it just means you are facing the cruel hard facts of life.

I am 86 and my husband is 87 and we have a small dog (25 pounds) of mixed breed that we have had for 7 years. We adopted her from a shelter when she was 2 years old. I have some trouble walking (use a cane), but he takes her for walks around our community several times a day. I also take her outside in our yard. She is the joy of our lives, since none of our children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren live close to us. In fact, everyone in our retirement community loves our Dixie. Much depends on one's health conditions as one ages, I'm sure. We thought she would probably outlive us, but nor sure of that at all. In that case, one of our daughters will take her to join their two dogs in another state.

Elmer, thank you for the concern. I get by just fine. I much prefer the simpler things in life, have neither desire or need for expensive luxuries. I have a good roof over my head, I have good food to eat, I can pay for the utilities every month, I have all that I need. And I thank the Good Lord every day for every bit of it. I learned at a very early age about prioritizing expenditures.

Mdln, no, I did not miss your comment about fostering. I spoke about owning, because fostering would not be for me. There is no shelter here that promotes fostering, anyway.

Dawn, please don't feel bad! I have neighbor dogs (and cats) that I can visit, also have a couple of "Granddogs" that live in this same town that I get to visit and play with quite often.

And there is a little corner of me that is just selfish enough that I kind of enjoy being alone and not having anything or anybody to be responsible for! First time in my life that I don't have the responsibility of school, a job, a husband, kids, grandkids, pets, etc.

So I agree with those who said there is no particular age that is too old to own a pet. It is a combination of many factors, different with each individual.

Rusty

Rusty, I'm glad you have furry four legged friends to visit and play with.

I get what you're saying about not having the responsibility of a pet too. Our last dog died a couple of years ago and we decided no more dogs, at least for the time being, as we want to travel and it wouldn't be fair to the dog to leave it behind in the care of others for long stretches at a time. Much as I miss the dogs who are no longer with us, I also enjoy being able to pick up and go without worrying about making arrangements for the dogs and I also like how clean the house stays now - no shedding hair, no muddy paw prints, no slobber on the sliding glass doors and so on.

Maybe someday we'll decide we're ready for another dog, but for now we're very happy with the decision we've made.

When she was 87, my mother adopted a 2 year old shelter cat. Upon hearing the news, I told my husband, "Get ready to own a cat soon." About 18 months later, my Mom had a health crisis and was permanently admitted to a care center. In between time, we found out our youngest was allergic to cat dander so we couldn't bring the cat to our home to live when my Mom became incapacitated. Having to find a new home for that cat was a huge stress at a time that was chock full with other stresses, so I think it's very wise for people to compare the longevity of the pet with their own anticipated longevity before adopting.

One of my best friends died a few years ago and on the day after her funeral, one of her other daughters got their mother a dog. These girls had been raised with pets all their lives and I'm happy to report at 96 this lady and her dog are doing well. Probably gives her something to live for. Of course, one of her daughters will take it if she dies.

I'll be 74 in a couple of months. I have an 11 year old dog. I got her when she was almost 6. I'm far too old for a puppy and all that entails - just not for me. My girl is a retired brood bitch from a very reputable and highly respected breeder. Perfect for both of us! I'd love another dog but my recent health issues are making me hesitate. I don't have a problem paying for vet care (but it certainly IS expensive!), and any dog I get from my breeder can go back to her at anytime I might not be able to care for it - that's what GOOD breeders do! I just need to be sure I can mange a 2nd older dog. Fingers crossed...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. After reading the responses, I am looking forward to having a conversation with my neighbor and learning why she thinks she is "too old."

I am 78 and last summer got a puppy. He is a beagle, and extremely active.. LOL This week, I only have 3 dogs here, but, for the 2 wks before that I was babysitting 5 dogs. I also have a cat. So far, none have been a problem.