Tag Archives: pet adoption

dogs

Adopt a Senior Pet Month

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November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month because senior dogs need loving homes too!

When you adopt a senior pet:

1. You are saving a life!

2. Seniors have been around, they’ve seen a lot and they have a lot of love to give.  They are usually calmer and adaptable to new situations.

3. Seniors don’t demand the same level of exercise or entertainment of a younger dog.  They are very happy to curl up by your feet and take a nice long nap.

4. They usually have some training, are house broken and aren’t teething so they aren’t shoe destroyers. Seniors are a lot less work than puppies and you probably won’t need to supervise any middle of the night potty breaks!

5. Don’t believe the old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.  It might take a little while, but senior dogs aim to please and are receptive to training.  They will learn the “house rules” in order to earn your love and affection.

6.  There is no mystery about how big they will be, what they will look like and what their grooming needs will be.NewfGirlsWeb-10

I know most people want to bring home a pet either as a puppy or young dog so that they can have as much time as possible with them.  I get that, I really do, but unfortunately I have known of many dogs that didn’t make it to their 2nd, 3rd or 4th birthday and it was devastating for their owners. We can never be sure how long our precious pets will be with us. The only guarantee we have is that at some point we have to say goodbye and that is by far, the worst part of being a pet owner.

Seniors tend to need more frequent medical care and that can be expensive. Annie and I were at the vet quite often and since we said goodbye in January, I’ve only been back there on two occasions. Once for Winn’s annual check up and then a couple of weeks later when she had her corn cob incident.  Maisie is due for her annual next week and it does feel a little strange that I haven’t been in the office as frequently as I was with Annie. I don’t miss the bills, but I do miss seeing everyone who works there.

I adopted Annie when she was 9 1/2 and knew that my time would be limited with her. Because of that, I was much more deliberate about making each day count for her. I wanted her to have everything I could possibly give her to prove to her that she was deserving of a loving home.  We had two years together and I loved every minute of it, even the ones when I worked so hard to gain her trust and wasn’t sure if she would ever bond with us.

Annie filled my heart in different ways than my other dogs and I know I will adopt a senior again.  Recently I’ve heard of two senior boys that are both available for adoption. One of them is a 10-year-old in Washington State who has attracted the attention of many Newfie owners on social media and I believe several applications have already been put in for him. The other one is an 8 1/2-year-old in Illinois who is very sweet but needs to be in a home with no other pets. Neither one of these boys is right for me but I know, just like with Annie, when the time is right my path will cross with a girl who needs me to give her the good life in her later years and I will greet her with open arms.

I still miss Annie so much but I want to encourage others to try not to worry about the amount of time you will have with your pet, but the quality of time you will have with your pet. If you are willing to open your heart and home to a senior pet, the rewards are huge for both of you and so worth it!NewfParty-186

One of our favorite companies, Stella and Chewy, are featuring adoptable senior pets all month long on their website. You can read about them here.  They will also donate $1 to senior rescues every time the hashtag #ISupportSeniorPets is used.  What an easy way for all of us to get involved! All year long, for every bag of food purchased, they donate a meal to an adult rescue pet.  Thank you Stella and Chewy for your constant, generous support of adult dogs.

Annie

Adopt A Senior Pet Month

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November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month and I can say from experience, it’s one of the best thing I’ve ever done!

Annie was 9 1/2 when we brought her home.  She had been in foster care for over a year, but her case was extreme. Most senior dogs that are up for adoption don’t have the emotional and behavioral needs she had.

When you adopt a senior pet:

1. You are saving a life!

2. Seniors have been around, they’ve seen a lot and they have a lot of love to give.  They are usually calmer and adaptable to new situations.

3. Seniors don’t demand the same level of exercise or entertainment of a younger dog.  They are very happy to curl up by your feet and take a nice long nap.

4. They usually have some training, are house broken and aren’t teething so they aren’t shoe destroyers. Seniors are a lot less work than puppies and you probably won’t need to supervise any middle of the night potty breaks!

5. Don’t believe the old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.  It might take a little while, but senior dogs aim to please and are receptive to training.  They will learn the “house rules” in order to earn your love and affection.

6.  There is no mystery about how big they will be, what they will look like and what their grooming needs will be.

7. Even though your time will be shorter with a senior pet, I have found that I appreciate each day that much more. There is no lifespan guarantee with our pets but knowing Annie is a senior has reminded me that every moment with her is precious.  Pets change our lives, they give us so much love and every day is enriched with my sweet, old girl.

I feel so lucky to have Annie in my life, but it’s not always easy.  Seniors need more medical care as they age. (Something all pet owners face at some point.) Twice yearly health checks are recommended so one should be prepared for increased veterinary bills compared to those of a younger and middle-aged pet. Their health can change quickly and must be attended to. Annie just developed an abscess in one of her teeth.  She needs to have it removed which requires anesthesia.  I’m nervous about that but we will have it taken care of and hope all goes well.

If I had to make the decision again, I wouldn’t change a thing. I know our time is limited, but really, our time is limited with all of our pets.  I know that I’ve changed her life.  She’s living her best years now and she showers me with love.  She acts like she appreciates everything we give her and she is so happy, every day.  I also know she’s changed our lives and I treasure every moment.img_4487

Annie's second chance

Happy Gotcha Day Sweet Annie!

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One year ago, you came into our lives and so much has changed since that cold, January day.

It was not easy for you, during the previous year you had moved 4 times.  You were rescued from the only home you knew.  It was a terrible place that failed you in so many ways, but the future was scary and unknown.  You were taken to a temporary foster kennel until your foster placement was found.  You were with your foster family for several months before you were adopted but your needs were more than that family could handle so you were returned to your foster pack. On January 31st, we found each other and started down a new path together.

It took a while for you to trust us.  I don’t blame you, you were 9 1/2 and it was really hard for you to shed your fears and memories.  I wasn’t sure that you would ever bond with us, but I was OK with that, I just wanted to show you that you were worthy of the love that every dog should know.

Slowly, very slowly you have let me in.  You search me out and join me in different rooms in our home.  You trust that you are safe with me when we leave the house.  You show your personality which is very silly and you are so affectionate. You love food and treats so much, you seem to never get enough. You talk to me, almost every day.

You have changed our lives, filled our hearts and honored us by choosing us to be your family.

Annie, I promise you this, just as I did with Thomas and Abigail while they were growing up, I say this to you:

When you are nervous, I gotcha.

When you want to change directions because someone is walking towards us, I gotcha.

When you have a belly ache because you ate a whole loaf of bread you found on the counter, I gotcha.

When you howl at me to wish me good morning or are telling me that yes, you want to go for a walk, I gotcha.

When you are feeling unsure at your Dr.’s office, I gotcha.

When you are so hungry for dinner, you start dancing around, I gotcha.

For all those moments we share, fun, scary or otherwise, I gotcha.

Until we say goodbye, I gotcha Annie, I gotcha.img_4487