Adopting a pet is already an incredibly compassionate choice, but deciding to bring a senior animal into your home is a true act of extraordinary kindness. This is especially significant when you know that the animal is entering the latter stages of life, which can come with unique challenges and emotional weight.
Hong Kong actress Jessica Hsuan recently made headlines by adopting Sailo Hsuan, a 14-year-old mixed-breed dog she initially fostered. This heartwarming story began during the chaos of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which severely impacted Hong Kong. While many people were concerned with their own safety during the storm, Jessica took a selfless step to help vulnerable animals.
Animal shelters in the New Territories were overwhelmed by flooding and power outages caused by the typhoon, leading them to urgently ask for assistance in caring for their animals. Jessica responded by fostering two dogs, including Sailo, who had been abandoned prior to finding shelter there.
Once the storm subsided and the emergency eased, most foster animals were returned to shelters or adopted. But Jessica found she could no longer say goodbye to her canine companions. She chose to officially adopt Sailo, although the other dog she was fostering had already been adopted by someone else.
Jessica, who is 55 years old, shared on Instagram recently that she took Sailo for a veterinary check-up and hoped for positive health news. Now, Sailo has joined Jessica's lively household, which already includes four dogs and three cats—all seniors themselves. This clearly reflects her deep affection and care for older animals, a devotion she has shown for years.
This isn’t an entirely new chapter for Jessica. In 2019, she opened up about her evolving understanding of life, death, and the process of letting go—lessons she absorbed while studying in the United Kingdom. She revealed that as a young animal lover, her priority had been to provide the best possible care to extend her pets' lives. But when her first dog aged and faced health issues, she was unprepared and fearful of confronting death.
A friend helped shift her perspective by encouraging her to empathize with the animal’s experience. Jessica recalled being told, "If I had a terminal illness and there was no hope for a cure, wouldn’t I want to be allowed to go peacefully? Forcing someone or an animal to stay alive just because we can’t bear to let go is actually selfish—it causes only more suffering."
This poignant advice transformed Jessica’s approach to caring for her pets, inspiring her to provide them with dignity and peace in their later years.
But here’s where it gets controversial—should people adopt senior pets knowing that their time together might be shorter, or are younger animals better candidates for adoption due to needing longer-term care? Jessica’s story challenges us to rethink our biases about older pets and highlights the joy and fulfillment that can come from giving them a loving home.
What do you think? Would you consider adopting a senior animal like Jessica? Share your thoughts in the comments below—you might just change someone’s perspective on this emotionally powerful choice.
Photos courtesy of jessicahsuan_official on Instagram.
For fans of Jessica’s work, you can watch her in the acclaimed "Kill Sera Sera" available on meWATCH, or check out the video below for more insights into her life and passions.
