Miami-Dade Animal Services launched its “Seniors Sleigh Too” holiday adoption event today, waiving adoption fees for 70 senior dogs available through Dec. 31 in an effort to move older animals into permanent homes during the busy holiday season.

The promotion pairs fee relief with a complimentary adopter gift bundle that includes a cozy blanket, a toy and dog treats. The shelter said the campaign is designed to highlight senior pets as calm, experienced companions and to reduce barriers for potential adopters at a time when many households are evaluating adding an animal.

“Senior pets bring unmatched love and companionship, and they often adapt quickly to a new home,” said Annette Jose, Director of Miami-Dade Animal Services. Jose framed the drive as both a seasonal appeal and a practical move to connect older animals with families who value steady temperaments.

Best Friends Animal Society is partnering on the initiative. Scott Giacoppo, Director of National Shelter Support for Best Friends, emphasized the advantages of adopting older animals. “Senior pets are often the most overlooked in shelters, yet they can make some of the most loving and easygoing companions,” Giacoppo said.

The 70 dogs included in the promotion are all identified as senior—age seven and older—and will be eligible for the waived-fee promotion during the campaign period. Miami-Dade officials said each successful adopter will leave the shelter with the complimentary gift bundle and the routine care already provided under standard adoption processing.

At Miami-Dade Animal Services, adoption fees typically vary based on age, and those fees include all vaccinations, de-worming, spay/neuter surgery and microchip implantation — routine services that shelters provide to ready animals for adoption.

Officials noted the financial relief from waived fees is intended to be one component of outreach. The shelter also highlighted that adopting senior dogs can materially help shelter operations: senior dogs have a substantially lower adoption rate—about 25%—compared with roughly 60% for younger dogs and puppies, and they can spend up to four times longer in shelters waiting for adoption. Moving seniors into homes not only improves outcomes for those animals but also frees space and resources for incoming animals. Adopting senior dogs alleviates strain on shelter resources and helps us serve more animals in need,” Jose said, describing the operational benefits of successful placements during the promotion window.

The drive runs through Dec. 31 and was announced in a release covered by Community Newspapers, which detailed the partnership with Best Friends and the shelter’s goals for the season. Miami-Dade Animal Services urged residents considering a companion to visit the shelter during the promotion window to meet the senior dogs and learn about adoption requirements and services included with adoption.

In describing the profile of many of the dogs available, shelter staff emphasized temperament and adaptability: older dogs often require less intensive training and can settle into household routines more quickly than untrained puppies. That predictability is one reason advocates say seniors can be ideal for first-time adopters, seniors, or families seeking a lower-energy companion.

The shelter’s promotion is time-limited and designed to spotlight a group of animals that routinely faces longer shelter stays and fewer adoption inquiries. By pairing waived fees, a take-home gift bundle and coordinated outreach with Best Friends Animal Society, Miami-Dade Animal Services aims to increase placements for senior dogs before the end of the year and improve outcomes for a cohort of animals that is frequently overlooked.

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