Celebrate Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month
Monday November 3, 2008
Happy November! I am delighted to tell you all that November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month. Sadly, older dogs are often passed over for puppies and young adults, but these precious canines deserve to live out their golden years in the comfort of a happy, loving home. As the proud "mama" of a 13-year-old dog, I have come to appreciate older dogs more than ever. Plus, I cannot help but find those graying muzzles so cute!
Though they require special care and attention, senior dogs can bring such joy into our lives. The extra time spent is well worth it! He might take a little longer going up the stairs, but the love he will bring to your home is beyond compare. If you are thinking about getting a dog, perhaps a senior dog is right for you. What better gift can you give a dog than a forever home? Have you ever adopted a senior dog? Please tell us about your experience!
Photo © Kimberly Zwaagstra
Comments
My husband and I adopted a senior dog 2 years ago. He had lived in our neighbourhood and we had walked with him nearly every day, but his ‘owners’ neglected him terribly and to compensate, Pino developed his own network of friends. His day began with me and my dog, moved on to a long walk with another neighbour, breakfast in the garage of a third neighbour and short and long visits with other friends. But he still had to sleep in a hole he dug under a tree; no one took him to the vet or could give him a place in front of the fireplace. When his ‘owner’ who was noted for her eratic and rather frightening behavior, finally decided ‘he was sick and gong to die anyhow’, she turned him over to the SPCA. The community thought he had died somewhere by himself, and when we finally found him. we rushed to help. When he was first placed in a permanent home, he weighed about 70 pounds, and when we took him in as his second permanent placement, he weighed about 120 (which is exactly what he should be).
He lives with us now - has the run of the house and will be here until the end. He is a gracious gentleman of at least 14 years who adores his home and his family of cats. He gently refuses to go for walks with anyone but our family - which disapoints some of his old friends, but he knows absolute security for the first time in his long and lonely life. And here he plans to stay.
Pat, what a wonderful story. I rejoice for your new companion. As an older person, if I ever get another dog it will be a senior from a shelter. We can age more or less gracefully together.
In my household of five dogs (all rescues) the oldest is a 14 year old Rottweiler. He doesn’t see or hear as well as he used to and he’s on thyroid and heart medication but he’s still the grand old man of the house. And when the time comes to say goodbye his ashes will be right along side his “mom”, the Silky Terrier who raised him. She passed at the grand old age of 21 years, 5 months, 7 days. And for everyone that passes another older, special needs dog will find room here for as long as he/she needs it. Puppies are cute but there is something about the older, quieter senior canine who is content to snuggle especially on those cold MN nights.
A Friend gave us her dog after we dog sit for her. She said she did not have time for her any more and she was 9 years old at the time. She was crated most of her life, only to go to the bathroom and eat and occational play time was the only time she was allowed out. When she came to our house I know she felt like she was at the Hilton. She had full reine over our house. Although when she missed behaved we would tell her to go to her house and she would go to her crate and get in until we lifted the punishment which was never over 30 min. if that. We love her so much. She just turned 14 in Sept and we can see a decline in her and really don’t know how much longer we will have her with us. She is a minishure schnoozer and I am certain a part of me will die with her some day, but for now she is still my little girl. I might add that older dogs are already house broken for the most part and that part is great.
I had and elderly dog. THe expense was a lot.
He was 17 when I put him to sleep. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But the kindest thing for him. He was a mid size dog. He was my mothers dog. But I had him his last 5 years. He had cataracts and degenerative back disk disease. And steroids were being sent to his liver by his body. I took him everywhere in my car and walked him until he could no longer go on walks. I will remember him to the day I die. I am now a cat person. I have 3 male cats. THey are my babies. THE END..