"The Garfield Movie" Sheds New Light on the Importance of Adopting Senior Pets

When I was a kid, the original "Garfield and Friends" cartoon came out, and every day after school we'd rush home to watch it. It shared funny stories about Garfield the cat, Odie the dog, their owner Jon, and all the trouble they always seemed to get themselves into. I loved that cartoon and have enjoyed the many movies about the orange cat made since then.

"The Garfield Movie" is set to hit theaters this Friday, May 24th, and it's one I'm looking forward to seeing. The movie showcases the various life stages of pets, from kitten to senior, and sheds light on how hard it is for pets without homes. We recently adopted a puppy rescued after being abandoned with her mom and siblings, so this movie already holds a special place in my heart. You can check out The Garfield Movie trailer here.

There's a huge A-List cast including Chris Pratt who voices Garfield, so expect lots of laughs.  Cecily Strong who voices Marge, an animal control officer in the movie. Strong partnered with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to give senior shelter dogs a special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – a walk down the orange carpet (instead of the red carpet!) at the movie's premiere this past weekend. She is a senior dog owner who is an advocate for pet adoption. Along with Hill’s, Cecily is raising awareness for the unique needs and care of senior pets, especially those in shelters.

Related: Cat That Looks Like Real-Life 'Garfield' Is Capturing People's Hearts

The Importance of Adopting Senior Pets

Did you know that senior pets are some of the most overlooked in shelters? The two adorable senior pets that Cecily walked the orange carpet with have been in shelters for most of their life. Wilfred is 15 and Cody is 6 or 7, how sad to think that they've never known real love or the feeling of belonging.

I've shared a lot of stories about adopted senior dogs and their humans, and one thing is clear, senior dogs make amazing pets. Sure, they often require more care because of health needs and age-related disabilities, but the love they give back in return more than makes up for it.

Senior dogs are usually calmer and easier to handle than young pups. They love napping and cuddling, and don't require daily walking or regular exercise. They are already house trained and, in most cases, know general commands. What you see is what you get with them, and all they want is love and comfort. And when you adopt a senior dog, you are saving their life and offering them a second chance at life and love.

What I thought was really cool about this orange carpet event is that Strong was encouraging people to adopt. The lucky family that takes home Cody or Wilfred from Vanderpump Dogs in Los Angeles, CA will be receiving a year's worth of FREE Hill's Science Diet Senior Vitality dog food courtesy of Hill’s! For more information you can contact Vanderpump Dogs directly.

Not only that but Hill’s will donate up to $100,000 to PetSmart Charities to cover a portion of the adoption fees for every pet adopted at PetSmart Adoption Centers from now through May 26th. If you've ever considered adopting, now's the perfect time to do it!

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