By Leonie Helm
Life Reporter
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While most people's thoughts go straight to a puppy when thinking about getting a dog, for one TikTok user, the decision to adopt Alison the rescue pit bull on her 11th birthday was the right one.
"She's almost 13!," reads the caption on a video that explains that her birthday is on January 13.
"I adopted a senior dog on her 11th birthday. She turns 13 on Saturday so we are having a birthday party. We decided to practice try on her outfit tonight," explains the text.
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In the video posted by @colereifsnider, Alison the senior pit bull can be seen walking around her house in her adorable outfit, which consists of a red jumper, and a hat with flowers on it and the words "Happy Birthday," her tail wagging the whole time.
By adopting a senior dog you will not only be getting a fully formed, and often trained pet, but you could also be saving a life.
"The decision to adopt an older animal can also take on lifesaving importance because they are usually the last to be adopted," the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said on its website. "Senior dogs, for example, have a 25 percent adoption rate, compared to the 60 percent adoption rate of younger dogs and puppies."
There are many reasons why adopting a senior dog might actually be a better option than a puppy.
"Older dogs have often grown out of habits that a puppy has not, including teething, destructive behavior and accidents in the house," say the ASPCA. "Older animals typically have some basic training, and know how to respond to important commands such as 'sit' and 'down.'"
The ASPCA add: "Mature animals are likely to settle into a home more easily and quickly than younger pets, often due to past experiences living in houses among people or other pets."
Another bonus of a senior pet is what you see is what you get.
"While a puppy's characteristics and disposition might change over time as he matures, a senior pet is less likely to change because his personality has already developed," said the ASPCA. "This doesn't mean 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'—senior pets are extremely adaptive and fully capable of learning new skills."
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The video went viral on the platform, receiving over 180,000 views and hundreds of comments.
"People who adopt senior dogs go straight to heaven," commented one user.
"Adopting a senior is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. They turn back into puppies in their golden years," shared another user.
Newsweek has reached out to @colereifsnider via TikTok for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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