Senior confirmed
DECATUR
DECATUR is a senior male Pit Bull Terrier at Kern Co Animal Control Dept - Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions; plea…
Kern Co Animal Control Dept - Bakersfield • Bakersfield, CA
Senior dogs in California
Senior dogs for adoption in California
Meet 1199 adoptable senior dogs (age 7+) in California. Each one is from a shelter or rescue and ready to give an older dog's quiet, grateful love. Showing 91–120 of 1,199 below.
Last updated July 12, 2026 at 9:30 AM EDT. Listings refresh automatically, usually every 12 hours.
Senior dogs — age 7 and up — wait far longer for homes than puppies, even though they're usually already house-trained, past the chewing stage, and happy to nap at your feet. Adopting an older dog in California means you typically know their size, temperament, and energy level from day one: fewer surprises, and a grateful companion who settles in fast. Always confirm availability and adoption requirements directly with the shelter or rescue.
Available senior dogs in California
Senior confirmed
JULIA
JULIA is a senior female Chihuahua, small in size, located in Los Angeles, CA at the South Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Center. Senior dogs mak…
South Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Center • Los Angeles, CA
10+ years
HAPPY
HAPPY is a male senior Shih Tzu, small in size, located in Long Beach, CA at Long Beach Animal Care Services. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Long Beach Animal Care Services • Long Beach, CA
Senior confirmed
Sam
Sam is a male Terrier senior dog in Pasadena, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
pasadenahumane.org • Pasadena, CA
Senior confirmed
Pedro
Pedro is a male Chihuahua (short coat), a senior dog located in Pasadena, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
pasadenahumane.org • Pasadena, CA
Senior confirmed
Tessa
Tessa is a senior female Chihuahua mix in Pasadena, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
pasadenahumane.org • Pasadena, CA
10+ years
10+ years
KIERAN
Meet Kieran – your lovable, lap-sized “hippopotamus” in disguise! Kieran is the gentle giant you didn’t know you needed in your life. From the moment …
Kathryn's Precious Paw Rescue • Beaumont, CA
Senior confirmed
Levi
Levi is a 7-year, 1-month-old male Golden Retriever at Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary • Petaluma, CA
10+ years
Kezar
Kezar is a 10 yrs 1 mo male Labrador Retriever/Shepherd (Unknown Type). He is at Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, CA. Senior dogs make …
Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary • Petaluma, CA
Senior confirmed
Duke
Duke is a 7 years, 1 month old male German Shepherd Dog at Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary • Petaluma, CA
Senior confirmed
Enzo
Enzo is a 9-year, 2-month-old male Border Collie at Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary • Petaluma, CA
10+ years
Porter
Porter is a 14-year-old male Labrador Retriever at Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, CA. Senior dogs like Porter make wonderful companio…
Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary • Petaluma, CA
10+ years
Mr. Nala
Mr. Nala is a 12-year-old male Golden Retriever at Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary • Petaluma, CA
10+ years
Levi
Levi is a 10-year-old male Border Collie/Labrador Retriever at Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companio…
Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary • Petaluma, CA
10+ years
TWISTY
TWISTY is a senior male Chihuahua, medium size, at Stanislaus County Animal Services in Modesto, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Stanislaus County Animal Services • Modesto, CA
10+ years
HEATH
HEATH is a senior male Chihuahua (small) at Yolo County Animal Services Shelter in Woodland, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Yolo County Animal Services Shelter • Woodland, CA
10+ years
CLAIRE
CLAIRE is a senior female Shiba Inu, medium size, located in Baldwin Park, CA at Los Angeles County Animal Control - Baldwin Park. Senior dogs make wo…
Los Angeles County Animal Control - Baldwin Park • Baldwin Park, CA
Senior confirmed
STANLEY
STANLEY is a senior male Chihuahua, small in size, at West Valley Animal Care and Control Center in Chatsworth, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful compani…
West Valley Animal Care and Control Center • Chatsworth, CA
10+ years
LARRY
LARRY is a male senior Chihuahua, small in size, at the South Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Center in Los Angeles, CA. Senior dogs make wonderfu…
South Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Center • Los Angeles, CA
10+ years
PAUL ANKA
PAUL ANKA is a 12-year, 1-month-old male Chihuahua at Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue in Los Angeles, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue • Los Angeles, CA
10+ years
Bellmont
Bellmont is a 10-year-old male Miniature Poodle at Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue in Beverly Hills, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue • Beverly Hills, CA
10+ years
AZALEA
AZALEA is a senior female Labrador Retriever, large, at Long Beach Animal Care Services in Long Beach, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Long Beach Animal Care Services • Long Beach, CA
10+ years
QUEENY
QUEENY is a small senior female Maltese at Los Angeles County Animal Control - Carson in Gardena, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Los Angeles County Animal Control - Carson • Gardena, CA
Senior confirmed
BROWNIE
Brownie is a senior male Yorkshire Terrier / Lhasa Apso, medium size. He is at West Valley Animal Care and Control Center in Chatsworth, CA. Senior do…
West Valley Animal Care and Control Center • Chatsworth, CA
Senior confirmed
GRANNY SMITH
A1252839 is a senior female Boxer (medium) at Kern Co Animal Control Dept - Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
Kern Co Animal Control Dept - Bakersfield • Bakersfield, CA
Senior confirmed
SETH
SETH is a senior male Schnauzer, medium in size, at North Central Animal Care and Control in Los Angeles, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
North Central Animal Care and Control • Los Angeles, CA
Senior confirmed
Senior confirmed
Brandy
Brandy is a 7-year-old female Bull Boxer at San Diego Animal Sanctuary in San Diego, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
San Diego Animal Sanctuary • San Diego, CA
Senior confirmed
Bereet
Bereet is a 7-year-old female Domestic Shorthair in Lancaster, CA. Senior dogs make wonderful companions.
care4pets.org • Lancaster, CA
Senior dogs in California by breed
Senior dogs in California by city
Shelters & rescues with senior dogs in California
These organizations currently have at least one adoptable senior dog listed on Lily's Second Chance.
- Ventura County Animal Regulation — Camarillo, California · See Ventura County Animal Regulation’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- South Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Center — Los Angeles, California · See South Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Center’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Riverside County Animal Control - Riverside Shelter — Riverside, California · See Riverside County Animal Control - Riverside Shelter’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Los Angeles County Animal Control - Baldwin Park — Baldwin Park, California · See Los Angeles County Animal Control - Baldwin Park’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Los Angeles County Animal Control - Downey — Downey, California · See Los Angeles County Animal Control - Downey’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Los Angeles County Animal Control - Lancaster — Lancaster, California · See Los Angeles County Animal Control - Lancaster’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- United Hope for Animals — Pasadena, California · See United Hope for Animals’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- North Central Animal Care and Control — Los Angeles, California · See North Central Animal Care and Control’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Orange County Animal Care Center — Orange, California · See Orange County Animal Care Center’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- San Bernardino City Animal Control — San Bernardino, California · See San Bernardino City Animal Control’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Canine Adoption and Rescue League — Santa Paula, California · See Canine Adoption and Rescue League’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Kern Co Animal Control Dept - Bakersfield — Bakersfield, California · See Kern Co Animal Control Dept - Bakersfield’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- West Valley Animal Care and Control Center — Chatsworth, California · See West Valley Animal Care and Control Center’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- East Valley Animal Care and Control Center — Van Nuys, California · See East Valley Animal Care and Control Center’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Riverside County Animal Control - Coachella Shelter — Thousand Palms, California · See Riverside County Animal Control - Coachella Shelter’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Contra Costa Animal Services — Martinez, California · See Contra Costa Animal Services’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Harbor Animal Care and Control Center — San Pedro, California · See Harbor Animal Care and Control Center’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Los Angeles County Animal Control - Carson — Gardena, California · See Los Angeles County Animal Control - Carson’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Mutts in Need — Newport Beach, California · See Mutts in Need’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Oakland Animal Services — Oakland, California · See Oakland Animal Services’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Pasadena Humane — Pasadena, California · See Pasadena Humane’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Stanislaus County Animal Services — Modesto, California · See Stanislaus County Animal Services’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Moreno Valley Animal Shelter — Moreno Valley, California · See Moreno Valley Animal Shelter’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Wags and Whiskers Pet Rescue — Chico, California · See Wags and Whiskers Pet Rescue’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
Senior dogs in other states
Adopting a senior dog in California — 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 adopt a senior dog in California?
Open any dog's profile to see which shelter or rescue is caring for them, then use the adoption link or contact details to apply directly with that organization. Lily's Second Chance gathers senior dogs in one place so they're easier to find — the adoption itself happens through the local group.
How much does it cost to adopt a senior dog in California?
Adoption fees vary by organization, but senior dogs are frequently discounted or sponsored because they wait the longest. Many rescues also begin any needed medical care before adoption. The dog's profile or the shelter can confirm the current fee.
Are senior dogs harder to care for?
Usually not. Older dogs are typically calmer and already trained, which makes the first weeks far easier than with a puppy. Some have age-related needs like a special diet or joint support, and the listing or shelter will tell you what to expect.
Can I adopt a senior dog from another city in California?
Yes. Most shelters and rescues in California welcome adopters from anywhere in the state, and some can arrange transport within California for the right match. Open a dog's profile to see the organization's contact details and ask them directly how their process works.
What should I expect in the first weeks after adopting a senior dog in California?
Senior dogs usually settle in faster than puppies because they're already past the most demanding stage. Expect a brief adjustment period — they may be shy at first, then relax into their personality. A consistent routine, a comfortable spot to rest, and patience are usually all it takes.
Can I foster a senior dog in California instead of adopting?
Many shelters and rescues in California offer foster programs — sometimes with a foster-to-adopt path so you can try the match before committing. Fostering is especially valuable for senior dogs because it gets them out of a kennel and into a calm home while they wait for their forever family. Ask the organization on any dog's profile whether fostering is available.
Are senior dogs good with children or other pets in a California home?
Many senior dogs are calm, gentle, and well-suited to family life — but it depends on the individual dog more than anything else. The shelter or rescue caring for each dog can tell you their specific history with children, cats, and other dogs before you apply. Many organizations offer meet-and-greets to make sure the match is right for everyone.
Know a senior dog in California who needs a home?
Shelters and rescues can list adoptable senior dogs for free.