by Irene Soriano Brightman
I have 2 senior dogs, my 13 year old Miniature Schnauzer, Mackie & 11 year old Dachshund, Cadi. Before I got these two lovelies, I had Ocha, a Maltese who was about 13 yrs old when she passed and Sophie, another Dachshund mix who was about 14 yrs old when she passed. I also served as a caretaker to a wonderful 15 year old Rottweiler, Radar who just passed last month. He was a sweet old boy who “calmed” me down during stressful days and I miss his sweet disposition very much.
Cadi
Mackie
Radar
Senior dogs are a joy…they kinda putz around the house all old and sweet. They like to cuddle and dont need super activity which is excellent for me, a writer, who’s always behind a book, watching a flick or locked behind my computer screen.
I’ve read many cases of senior dogs being dumped in the shelters due to their advanced age. I could never see myself doing this but I realize that for financially challenged guardians with limited incomes who cannot afford the medical bills incurred by a senior pet that becomes ill, this may be the only alternative they think they have.
Now it’s a different story if a senior dog is dumped because owners want to make room for a young pup or younger dog in the household. Now that is just…well…sad. It tugs at my heart when I hear stories of older dogs made to live out their final days in a cold shelter run or worse, be put to sleep because the odds are against them in terms of getting adopted.
So this is my pitch for the older dogs, I know that Downtown Dog Rescue has a couple of senior dogs that need homes like Charlie. Please consider him, and the others when you think of getting a new companion. We are also looking for a foster for him…
Charlie
There are even more great reasons
to adopt a senior dog,
TOP TEN REASONS TO ADOPT AN OLDER DOG!!
1. Older dogs are housetrained. You won’t have to go through the difficult stage(s) of teaching a puppy house manners and mopping up after accidents.
2. Older dogs are not teething puppies, and won’t chew your shoes and furniture while growing up.
3. Older dogs can focus well because they’ve mellowed. Therefore, they learn quickly.
4. Older dogs have learned what “no” means. If they hadn’t learned it, they wouldn’t have gotten to be “older” dogs.
5. Older dogs settle in easily, because they’ve learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack.
6. Older dogs are good at giving love, once they get into their new, loving home. They are grateful for the second chance they’ve been given.
7. What You See Is What You Get: Unlike puppies, older dogs have grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grow up to be quite different from what they seemed at first.
8. Older dogs are instant companions — ready for hiking, car trips, and other things you like to do.
9. Older dogs leave you time for yourself, because they don’t make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies and young dogs do.
10. Older dogs let you get a good night’s sleep because they’re accustomed to human schedules and don’t generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or bathroom breaks.
To learn more about the pleasures of
older dog adoption,
