With the winter season right around the corner, Bloomington’s local Animal Care and Control is bracing for one of its most challenging seasons. According to staff, the shelter has been operating at or near capacity for the past two years. A near-constant stream of new intakes leads to limited housing space. To help ease the pressure, the shelter is bringing back Adopt a Senior Pet Month, a yearly November event that waives adoption fees for animals five years and older.

Senior pets are often overlooked, and shelter staff say that starts even before people walk through the door. Many adopters come to the shelter specifically looking for puppies and kittens, which means older animals rarely get a chance before visitors focus on the younger ones. That preference makes it much harder for seniors to stick out.

There are also a plethora of stereotypes around senior animals that add to this difficulty. “Senior animals in general have this myth about them that they are set in their ways or you can’t train them,” Sauder explained. “But really, they’re just as trainable and adaptable as any other age.”

Health concerns are another common worry among new adopters. While it is more likely for older animals to have medical needs, Sauder says it’s not as predictable as some may think. “You never know what you’re going to get with an animal… some have incredible lifespans with no major issues, and others need more support. It just depends.”

Beyond helping the shelter, staff say adopting a pet can be a meaningful morale boost during the winter months. Seasonal depression often hits the hardest when the clocks change, and weather gets colder. Sauder says animals offer a grounding presence that people may not realize they need.

“Pets provide a companionship that’s different than companionship with people… caring for another creature gives you that sense of purpose, and they give you a kind of acceptance that helps during those rough patches.”

Volunteer Program Director Jenny Gibson shared that she recently adopted a kitten herself, and said the timing reminded her how comforting pets can be. “It encourages you to focus on being home, cozy, taking care of eachother,” she said. “And when youre feeling seasonal depression, you don’t get outside or get sunshine. Even adopting a dog gets you out the door, which can really help.”

Research actually backs up these experiences. Studies have shown that interacting with animals lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and even physical pain. Even a cat’s purr has been linked to healing and pain relief.

People connect with animals in a way that feels almost instinctive. Sauder explained that the bond is “is hard to put into words,” so he says he calls his pets “family”. “They’re the ones who greet you at the door, curl up with you on cold nights, and make home feel like home.” That kind of relationship is hard to describe but easy to feel. The sense of routine, affection, and feeling of having something that depends on you can massively boost your mood.

That bond hits even harder when seasonal depression settles in. Pets give people structure. They give people a reason to get up, step outside, or simply just break out of their own head for a while. It’s a companionship that feels steady in a season when a lot of people don’t.

That’s part of why senior month matters so much at the shelter. These older animals are often passed over by people who come in hoping for a puppy or kitten, but they’re just as loving and ready to fit into someone’s life as any other animal. Highlighting them gives the community a chance to do something meaningful and give an animal that same feeling of family Sauder mentioned. It’s a small choice on paper, but for the right adopter and the right pet, it becomes a real second chance for both parties.