At Risk
Baby
Meet Baby! A soulful eight-year-old, 74-pound American Staffordshire Terrier/American Pitbull Terrier/German Shepherd mix currently living in Menlo Pa…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
The national senior-dog directory
Senior dogs for adoption, nationwide
6,316 adoptable senior dogs (age 7+) are listed right now, with 6,166 currently grouped across 47 states. Search below, or browse by state or age.
Last updated October 18, 2026 at 10:47 AM EDT. 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.
34 senior dogs match your search
34 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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At Risk
Boogie
Meet Boogie! A gentle almost nine-year-old, 80-pound Shepherd/Rottweiler mix currently living in Redwood City, CA, whose journey is nothing short of m…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Luna
Meet Luna! A soulful eight-and-a-half-year-old Terrier mix currently living in Hadley, MA, whose expressive eyes and silky black coat, with charming w…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Buddy
Meet Buddy! A handsome seven-year-old Siberian Husky/Shepherd mix in Frazee, MN, whose essence is a calm, loyal heart wrapped in a beautiful white and…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
10+ years
Eevee and Ellie
Meet Eevee and Ellie! Eevee is a devoted thirteen-year-old Pomeranian/Papillon mix and Ellie is a sixteen-year-old German Shepherd mix. They are curre…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Moxie
Meet Moxie! A spirited almost nine-year-old Korean Jindo currently in Ashburn, VA, whose quiet strength is matched only by the golden glow of her soft…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
10+ years
Eevee
Meet Eevee! A charming fourteen-year-old Pomeranian/Papillon mix currently in Chula Vista, CA, Eevee is open to a loving home anywhere in the U.S. Wei…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Nova
Meet Nova! A spirited nine-and-a-half-year-old Labrador Retriever from Charlotte, NC, whose essence is a radiant beam of affection wrapped in a glossy…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Nola
Meet Nola! A loving almost eight-year-old American Pitbull Terrier mix currently in Kent, WA, whose soulful eyes and velvety black coat are only match…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Brandy
Meet Brandy! A sweet and snuggly eight-year-old American Pitbull Terrier mix currently in Bridgeport, CT, who’s ready to be the star of her very own h…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Lucky and Piper
Meet Lucky and Piper! A devoted pair of dogs in Ocala, FL, whose steady companionship is a quiet reminder that some friendships are simply meant to la…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Tofu
Meet Tofu! A thoughtful seven-year-old Australian Cattle Dog currently in Richmond, VA, whose essence is a loyal heart wrapped in a handsome blue mott…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Coconut
Meet Coconut! A loving eight-year-old Dutch Shepherd/German Shepherd mix currently in Portland, OR, whose essence is gentle devotion wrapped in a beau…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Harrison
Meet Harrison! A dignified eight-year-old Vizsla in Corte Madera, CA, whose golden rust coat radiates warmth and beauty, just like his heart. Harrison…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Bruce
Meet Bruce! A spirited seven-year-old Boxer/American Bulldog mix currently in Provo, UT, whose essence is a joyful blend of goofy enthusiasm, loyal af…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Zep
Meet Zep! A laid-back Boxer/Bulldog mix estimated to be between six to eight years old currently in Sneads Ferry, NC, whose gentle spirit comes wrappe…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
10+ years
Maple
Meet Maple! A gentle Golden Retriever mix currently in Princeton, NJ, who is almost twelve years old, whose warm golden coat, soulful eyes, and quietl…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Senior confirmed
Tessa
Meet Tessa! A happy-go-lucky almost seven-year-old Shepherd/Rottweiler mix currently in Long Beach, CA, whose playful spirit and goofy charm come wrap…
Joyful Pets Animal Rescue • Amherst, MA
Showing 18 of 34 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 47 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
California1161Texas802Florida758Georgia298Arizona296North Carolina208Illinois197New York184Maryland178Colorado162Nevada145Missouri140Minnesota125Utah125New Jersey103Pennsylvania102New Mexico101Virginia97South Carolina80Indiana73Massachusetts71Ohio70Tennessee68Mississippi67Oklahoma67Louisiana60Washington57Michigan46Iowa36West Virginia36Alabama35Oregon27Wisconsin22Delaware20Kentucky20Kansas19South Dakota16Connecticut15Vermont14Alaska12Rhode Island12Arkansas11District of Columbia11Idaho10New Hampshire8Nebraska5North Dakota5Wyoming2Puerto Rico1
All states
Alabama35Alaska12American SamoaArizona296Arkansas11California1161Colorado162Connecticut15Delaware20District of Columbia11Florida758Georgia298GuamHawaiiIdaho10Illinois197Indiana73Iowa36Kansas19Kentucky20Louisiana60MaineMaryland178Massachusetts71Michigan46Minnesota125Mississippi67Missouri140MontanaNebraska5Nevada145New Hampshire8New Jersey103New Mexico101New York184North Carolina208North Dakota5Northern Mariana IslandsOhio70Oklahoma67Oregon27Pennsylvania102Puerto Rico1Rhode Island12South Carolina80South Dakota16Tennessee68Texas802U.S. Virgin IslandsUtah125Vermont14Virginia97Washington57West Virginia36Wisconsin22Wyoming2
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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.