10+ years
Jillie
Jillie is a 13 year old, 18 lbs. Chihuahua mix. She is a sweet girl and definitely a people dog. She loves to go for walks and car rides. She is potty…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
The national senior-dog directory
Senior dogs for adoption, nationwide
6,932 adoptable senior dogs (age 7+) are listed right now, with 6,719 currently grouped across 48 states. Search below, or browse by state or age.
Last updated November 9, 2026 at 1:47 AM EST. Listings refresh throughout the day. Always confirm a dog’s availability with the shelter or rescue before making plans.
Lily's Second Chance is a free nonprofit directory built in memory of Lily, a senior dog adopted at 10 who gave seven beautiful years of love. We don't shelter or adopt out dogs ourselves — we gather listings from real shelters and rescues so older dogs get seen before they're overlooked.
21 senior dogs match your search
21 senior dogs match your search.
Search by name, breed, state, size, or sex — every result is a real, currently listed senior dog.
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10+ years
Yogi
Meet Yogi! This 12-year-old, 6 lb. Chihuahua is a sweet, funny little companion who loves cuddles, walks, and the occasional stuffed toy to destroy. Y…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Happy
Meet Happy! Happy is an adorable 8-year-old, 12-pound Spaniel mix whose name couldn't be more fitting! This incredibly sweet, gentle boy has a heart f…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
10+ years
Bella
Meet Bella! Bella is a 13+ year-old Poodle weighing 16 pounds. Bella is a sweet, gentle, and happy little lady with a heart full of love. She's a clas…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
10+ years
Ruckus
Meet Ruckus! Ruckus is a 12-year-old, 10-pound Toy Poodle with a heart as big as his personality. After his owner passed away, he found himself in the…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
10+ years
August
Meet August! She is a gorgeous 9 year old, 56 lb Belgian Malinois mix. August is pretty much perfect and it didn’t take her long to get settled in to …
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
10+ years
Willow (Chihuahua)
Meet Willow. Willow is a lively 11 + year-old, 23 lb senior gal chihuahua mix who still has plenty of spark and curiosity. While she seems to be a one…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Opal
Meet Opal! Opal is an adorable 8-year-old, 10-pound Chihuahua/Spaniel mix with a heart full of love and a personality that is sure to steal yours! Thi…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Atom
Meet Atom! Atom may be tiny, but he's packed with personality! At 8 years young and just 3 pounds, this little gentleman is basically a whole lot of s…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Brutus
Meet Brutus! Brutus is an adorable 8-year-old, 4 lb. Chihuahua who may be tiny, but he has plenty of sweetness packed into his little frame. Brutus is…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
10+ years
Kody
Meet Kody! Kody is a 12-year-old, 9 lb. Chihuahua with a sweet, social personality and an adorably goofy charm. His tail seems to wag nonstop, and he …
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Sully
Meet Sully! Sully is a 7-year-old, 23-pound Dachshund/Beagle mix with plenty of energy and personality packed into those short little legs! If you’re …
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
CareBear
Meet CareBear! This 8 year old, 38 lb. cattle dog is a fun, energetic girl with a big personality and an even bigger love for playtime! Whether she is…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Ravioli
Meet Ravioli! Ravioli is an adorable 8-year-old, 11-pound Chihuahua/Dachshund mix with a gentle nature and a sweet personality. This lovely little gir…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
10+ years
Chewy
Meet Chewy! Chewy is a 10-year-old, 9 lb. Shih Tzu who may technically be a senior, but you’d never know it from his energy! This happy little guy has…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Sushi
Meet Sushi! Sushi is a 7 year old, 14 lb. miniature poodle with a big personality packed into one adorable little body. He's happy, affectionate, play…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Shorty
Meet Shorty! He is a 9 year old, 16 miniature poodle. Shorty is a happy, affectionate pup who loves making the most of his days! He enjoys going on wa…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
10+ years
Charlie
Meet Charlie! Charlie is a 12-year-old, 18-pound Poodle mix with the best "go with the flow" attitude. He's quiet, easygoing, gets along with other do…
Second Chance Dog Rescue • San Diego, CA
Showing 18 of 21 dogs.
Finding a senior dog, answered
How do I find senior dogs for adoption in my state?
Choose your state from the list on this page to see every adoptable senior dog (age 7 and up) that shelters and rescues have listed there. Each dog's profile links straight to the organization caring for them, so you apply with the right group.
Does Lily's Second Chance list senior dogs from every state?
Lily's Second Chance gathers adoptable senior dogs from shelters and rescues nationwide, and any US state can have listings. Right now senior dogs are listed in 48 states as dogs are adopted and new ones are added, so if your state isn't shown yet it's worth checking back or browsing a neighboring state.
Can I adopt a senior dog from another state?
Often, yes. Many rescues arrange or help coordinate transport for the right adopter, while others prefer a local meet-and-greet first. Open the dog's profile and ask the shelter or rescue directly how their out-of-state adoption process works.
What should I prepare before bringing a senior dog home?
A quiet space to rest, easy access to food and water, and a short chat with the shelter about any diet or mobility needs the specific dog has will set you both up well. Keeping the first few days calm and predictable helps an older dog relax and start to feel settled in their new surroundings.
How do I know if a senior dog is right for my household?
Ask the shelter or rescue caring for the dog about their history with children, cats, and other dogs, and whether a meet-and-greet is possible before you decide. Because older dogs are already grown and settled, their temperament tends to be easier to read, which makes finding the right fit for your home more straightforward.
Is fostering a senior dog a good first step?
For many people, yes. Fostering gets a dog out of a kennel and into a calm home, and it lets you see how the match fits day to day before committing. Many of the organizations named on a dog's profile offer fostering, sometimes with a foster-to-adopt path, so it's worth asking them whether it's available.
How this directory works
Lily's Second Chance is not a shelter, rescue, or breeder — it's a free nonprofit directory. Listings are pulled automatically from shelter management platforms and rescue networks (including the RescueGroups.org network and individual shelters' own websites), then refreshed on a recurring schedule so the dogs shown stay current. Adoption always happens through the shelter or rescue caring for the dog, never through Lily's Second Chance — every dog's profile links straight to that organization's adoption process or contact details.
Because availability changes constantly, always confirm a specific dog's status directly with the listing shelter or rescue before making plans to visit or apply. A dog whose listing shows it isn't open for adoption yet (e.g. still in transport or intake) is labeled "Coming soon" and kept out of the counts above until it opens up.
States with senior dogs right now
California1318Texas951Florida797Arizona318Georgia298Illinois216North Carolina214Maryland213New York195Colorado166Nevada161Utah135Missouri130New Mexico128Pennsylvania114Minnesota109New Jersey104Virginia98South Carolina86Massachusetts82Tennessee82Indiana78Oklahoma76Mississippi71Washington67Ohio63Louisiana50Michigan44Alabama41Iowa38Oregon33Delaware28West Virginia28Wisconsin23Kansas19Kentucky19Rhode Island19Connecticut18Alaska16South Dakota16District of Columbia15Idaho13Vermont13Arkansas9Nebraska9New Hampshire5North Dakota5Wyoming2Montana1Puerto Rico1
All states
Alabama41Alaska16American SamoaArizona318Arkansas9California1318Colorado166Connecticut18Delaware28District of Columbia15Florida797Georgia298GuamHawaiiIdaho13Illinois216Indiana78Iowa38Kansas19Kentucky19Louisiana50MaineMaryland213Massachusetts82Michigan44Minnesota109Mississippi71Missouri130Montana1Nebraska9Nevada161New Hampshire5New Jersey104New Mexico128New York195North Carolina214North Dakota5Northern Mariana IslandsOhio63Oklahoma76Oregon33Pennsylvania114Puerto Rico1Rhode Island19South Carolina86South Dakota16Tennessee82Texas951U.S. Virgin IslandsUtah135Vermont13Virginia98Washington67West Virginia28Wisconsin23Wyoming2
Browse by age
Popular breeds waiting now
Adopting a senior dog — what to expect
Most senior dogs are already house-trained and past the chewing/high-energy puppy stage, so the first weeks are usually calmer than raising a puppy. Expect a short adjustment period as a newly adopted senior settles in — a consistent routine, a comfortable place to rest, and some patience go a long way. Ask the shelter or rescue about the dog's health history, energy level, and any age-related needs (a special diet, joint support, etc.) before you apply; most are minor and manageable, and many organizations begin needed medical care before the dog is even listed.
Adopting a senior dog — FAQ
What counts as a senior dog?
Most shelters and vets consider a dog "senior" around age 7, though large breeds often age sooner and small breeds a little later. Every dog listed here is 7 years or older.
How do I find a senior dog to adopt?
You can search by name, breed, state, city, or age, or browse the landing pages for each. Every result is a real senior dog listed by a shelter or rescue, and each profile links straight to the organization caring for that dog.
How do I adopt a dog I find here?
Open the dog's profile to see which shelter or rescue is caring for them, then use the adoption link or contact details on that profile to apply directly with the organization. Lily's Second Chance gathers senior dogs in one place so they're easier to find — the adoption itself always happens through the local shelter or rescue.
Are these listings up to date?
Listings refresh throughout the day, and availability can change between updates. Always confirm a dog's availability with the shelter or rescue before making plans.
Helpful resources
Looking for a specific breed?
Browse senior dogs by breed, or share a senior dog who needs a home.