It's Adopt-A-Senior Companion Month at the Wisconsin Humane Society. Here's a perfect example ...

Indigo is an 11-year-old Australian shepherd / Siberian husky mix with a lovely coat and personality to match. She is exceptionally gentle and quiet. Indigo would prefer a patient guardian who understands that she's more inclined to watch a good movie than to start agility training. That said, Indigo is very healthy and likes to go for walks -- she just won't require the extensive training, time and energy that a puppy demands. Also, Indigo would do best in a home without young children.

The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) is encouraging people who have room and love in their hearts to adopt a senior companion animal and to give them the best holiday gift ever: a new home. These senior animals will, in return, give a lot of love. WHS notes that senior companion animals offer tons of positive qualities that a younger, furry friend is yet to develop.

• Older animals know the ropes. They're patient and wise, making it easier to assimilate them into a new home.
• Mature animals often give you some time to yourself, as their physical demands are not as high.
• Older dogs have grown into their shape and personality, so "what you see is what you get," Puppies can grow up to be quite different from what they seemed at first.
• Older animals can learn very quickly. Their ability to focus is leaps and bounds ahead of those impetuous puppies and kittens.
• Senior animals will return the love that you give them tenfold.

The adoption fee for Indigo, and all dogs at the Wisconsin Humane Society, covers spay/neuter surgery, microchip identification, a health exam, initial vaccinations and heartworm tests. Dogs also come with one month free health insurance and are treated with a prescription medicine that protects against fleas, worms and other parasites. Call the Wisconsin Humane Society at (414) ANIMALS or visit the Web site at www.wihumane.org for more information.