We bet Snoop's owner had no intention of seeing his dog end up in an animal shelter, but based on our animal intake numbers, we know it happens far too often. Many animals come to the Humane Society of Huron Valley because their person has gone into a nursing home or has passed away suddenly.

A pet trust is always a good idea for your companions. Unlike a will, a trust can be executed immediately after your death and can also apply if you become ill or incapacitated. A trustee is specified to control the funds and would contact your chosen caregiver.

Snoop is our AnnArbor.com Pet of the Week, and we selected this sweet 10-year-old Maltese mix so we could highlight the need to adopt older pets.

Snoop would love a home where he can have a lap to curl up on. He’s a little shy, but his life has been turned upside down, so it’s normal for him to feel lonely and scared. We can tell he’s a sweet little dog, and, based on his previous home, we think he would do best in a home without small children since he was so used to a quiet home.

Snoop is an older dog, but adopting an older dog has many advantages.

Older dogs generally have had some training, both in obedience and house manners. Older dogs have also learned what "no" means and how to leave the furniture, carpets, shoes and your other valuables alone. It’s also true that older dogs appreciate love and attention and learn quickly what’s expected from them to keep the love they crave.

If you don’t have a lot of time for playing, older dogs are fine just sitting next to you and napping, and we all know that petting a dog is a great stress reliever and can actually lower your blood pressure. Certainly the best thing about adopting an older dog is that you will be getting him or her out of the shelter and into a home.

Older dogs tend to stay at HSHV longer because people want puppies and younger dogs. Snoop would like to be adopted today.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving all of Washtenaw County, Canton, and Plymouth, and relies solely on donations from businesses and individuals to support our community programs. The mission of HSHV is to promote responsible and compassionate care of all animals in our community. For more information, call 734-662-5585 or visit www.hshv.org.

Deborah Kern is the marketing director at the Humane Society of Huron Valley and can be reached at 734-661-3527 or deb@hshv.org.