Senior confirmed
Mocha
Meet Mocha — a 7 year old, 20 lb Shih Tzu with a heart full of love and the cutest little poses! Quick Facts: Name: Mocha Breed: Shih Tzu Age: 7 years…
CrisisDogsNC • Spring Lake, NC
Senior dogs in North Carolina
Senior dogs for adoption in North Carolina
Meet 196 adoptable senior dogs (age 7+) in North Carolina. Each one is from a shelter or rescue and ready to give an older dog's quiet, grateful love. Showing 31–60 of 196 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina
Senior confirmed
Senior confirmed
Suka
Petfinder Courtesy Post: Meet Suka Suka is a beautiful 10-year-old Husky/Shepherd mix with a calm, gentle presence and a heart full of quiet loyalty. …
Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue inc • Middlesex, NC
Senior confirmed
Bella
Meet Bella — a 9 year old, 42 lb Alaskan Malamute mix with all the classic Malamute charm wrapped into a smaller, stunning package! Quick Facts: Name:…
CrisisDogsNC • Spring Lake, NC
10+ years
Lucy (Courtesy Post)
This is a courtesy post. Please do not contact Heart of the Foothills for information. Contact information is provided in the description below. Lucy …
Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue • Rutherfordton, NC
10+ years
Coco
This is a courtesy post. Please do not contact Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue for information. Contact information is provided below. This beaut…
Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue • Rutherfordton, NC
10+ years
Kylo
Attention: This is a courtesy posting only! This pet is NOT available through Mountain Pet Rescue. Please do NOT contact MPR for information about the…
Mountain Pet Rescue Asheville • Candler, NC
Senior confirmed
Rocky
Rocky is a handsome, 7 yr old, 14 lb. Pekingese. Rocky is an attentive, happy, and playful Pekingese who just happens to be mostly blind. He can see s…
Hart-2-Heart Rescue, Inc. • Greensboro, NC
Senior confirmed
VIOLET
My name is Violet. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Con…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
WILLETTE
My name is Willette. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & C…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
10+ years
TREENA
My name is Treena. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Con…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
10+ years
CLARABELLE
My name is Clarabelle. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care &…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
DEJA
My name is Deja. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Contr…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
BLUE
My name is Blue. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Contr…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
NINA
My name is Nina. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Contr…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
REGGIE
My name is Reggie. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Con…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
10+ years
MISTER
My name is Mister. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Con…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
VELVETA
My name is Velveta. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Co…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
PRINCESS
My name is Princess. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & C…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
NENE
My name is Nene. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Contr…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
PRINCE
My name is Prince. I can be identified by Animal Care & Control as A1264468.I appear to be a neutered male, gray and white Pit Bull Terrier.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
HONEY
My name is Honey. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Cont…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
PENNY
My name is Penny. I am currently being fostered. While I am not at the shelter, I am available for adoption. I can be identified by Animal Care & Cont…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
COCOA
My name is Cocoa. I can be identified by Animal Care & Control as A1118577.I appear to be an unaltered female, brown and white Pit Bull Terrier.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
BAYMAX
My name is Baymax. I can be identified by Animal Care & Control as A1263714.I appear to be a neutered male, tan Pug and Beagle.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
10+ years
Darwin
RE-INTRODUCING DARWIN!! Darwin was originally adopted from PAWS back in 2017, but through no fault of his own, he recently found himself back with us …
PAWS of Hertford County • Murfreesboro, NC
Senior confirmed
HARVEY
My name is Harvey. I can be identified by Animal Care & Control as A1267328.I appear to be an unaltered male, brown brindle and white Pit Bull Terrier…
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
PANTERA
My name is Pantera. I can be identified by Animal Care & Control as A1246914.I appear to be an unaltered male, black Labrador Retriever mix.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
Senior confirmed
DECLAN
My name is Declan. I can be identified by Animal Care & Control as A1267100.I appear to be an unaltered male, brown Pit Bull Terrier.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services • Charlotte, NC
10+ years
Senior dogs in North Carolina by breed
Senior dogs in North Carolina by city
Shelters & rescues with senior dogs in North Carolina
These organizations currently have at least one adoptable senior dog listed on Lily's Second Chance.
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services — Charlotte, North Carolina · See Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Pawfect Match Rescue — Holly Springs, North Carolina · See Pawfect Match Rescue’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Guilford County Animal Services — Greensbo, North Carolina · See Guilford County Animal Services ’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Ruff Love Foster Care and Dog Rescue — Thomasville, North Carolina · See Ruff Love Foster Care and Dog Rescue’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue inc — Middlesex, North Carolina · See Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue inc’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Best Friend Pet Adoption — Cary, North Carolina · See Best Friend Pet Adoption’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Burlington Adoption Center — Haw River, North Carolina · See Burlington Adoption Center’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Cumberland County Animal Control — Fayetteville, North Carolina · See Cumberland County Animal Control’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- SPCA of Wake County — Raleigh, North Carolina · See SPCA of Wake County’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Catawba County Animal Care and Control — Newton, North Carolina · See Catawba County Animal Care and Control’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- CrisisDogsNC — Spring Lake, North Carolina · See CrisisDogsNC’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue — Rutherfordton, North Carolina · See Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Animal Care & Control, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department — Charlotte, North Carolina · See Animal Care & Control, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Gram Rescue Ranch — Winston Salem, North Carolina · See Gram Rescue Ranch’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Mountain Pet Rescue Asheville — Candler, North Carolina · See Mountain Pet Rescue Asheville’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Animal Protection Society of Durham — Durham, North Carolina · See Animal Protection Society of Durham’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Orange County Animal Services — Chapel Hill, North Carolina · See Orange County Animal Services’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Atlantic Rottweiler Rescue Foundation — Mooresville, North Carolina · See Atlantic Rottweiler Rescue Foundation’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Carolina Animal Rescue And Adoption — Sanford, North Carolina · See Carolina Animal Rescue And Adoption’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Iredell County Animal Services and Control Department — Statesville, North Carolina · See Iredell County Animal Services and Control Department’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Piedmont Animal Rescue — Mooresville, North Carolina · See Piedmont Animal Rescue’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Freedom German Shepherd Rescue — La Grange , North Carolina · See Freedom German Shepherd Rescue’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- Happy Hills Animal Foundation — Staley, North Carolina · See Happy Hills Animal Foundation’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
- New Hanover County Sheriff's Office Animal Services Unit — Wilmington, North Carolina · See New Hanover County Sheriff's Office Animal Services Unit’s senior dogs on Lily's Second Chance
Senior dogs in other states
Adopting a senior dog in North Carolina — 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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina?
Yes. Most shelters and rescues in North Carolina welcome adopters from anywhere in the state, and some can arrange transport within North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina instead of adopting?
Many shelters and rescues in North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina who needs a home?
Shelters and rescues can list adoptable senior dogs for free.