At my school we have grad sudents that want a pet but know that they have no idea what their future holds. One of them started fostering an oldster from a local last-chance rescue group that often has senior dogs. Now others are considering doing so. GIves the dog a couple years to find an adopter and they are quiet, mannerly, study companions.
Speaking of old dogs. If you want a good cry listen to Patty Griffin’s song “Wild Old Dog”. Haunting. My husband won’t let me play it if he is in the car. But sometimes sad, sad songs serve a purpose.
I have a wonderful friend who fosters old Golden Retrievers for a Golden rescue. Most of the time, these old dogs spend the rest of their lives with her. The dogs are happy, and get all the love in the world for the time they have left on Earth. In every picture I see of her pack (she has several at one time) they have that wonderful happy “smile” on their faces. I have the utmost admiration for her. She has these old dogs for a year or two, then sends them to the Bridge when their infirmities get the best of them, having know nothing but peace and comfort for their last years. She bears the pain of having loved, and lost, so quickly.
I saw an ad on CL the other week that made me want to smack somebody. 14 year old blind and deaf and needed a new home. Talk about confusion for the poor dog 
In this case, I think it would be kinder to euth in this case…
Its just not something I could ever do, no matter the circumstances. Old or young.
I’ve always said I’d be out tricking on the corner before I’d give my dogs away, unless it was to someone very close to me I could keep tabs on. Because it would be easier to look at myself in the mirror knowing I was a wh*re rather than wondering about the fate of these two.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153800862252883&set=pcb.10153800868147883&type=3&theater
:sadsmile:
I just adopted a 10ish lab mix last year. Best decision ever! He absolutely seamlessly integrated into our empty nest home. From literally 5 minutes after he got here it was like he’d been here forever. Other than the chronic ear infection he came with, no issues whatsoever. I think a good rescue is vital. They can help folks take home the kind of dog they need, not necessarily the dog they think they wanted. I am hoping adopting older dogs catches on even more as it is so much easier than a puppy.
I know after our Roy is gone 
there will most probably be an older dog in our future. 
I will always have a dog in my life. My last dog (perhaps a senior dog by then) will be provided for by my estate. Whom ever gets him/her will have a prepaid med plan unless a heir gets it. They (heirs) already know and accept the deal as part of their legacy.
[QUOTE=wcporter;8757923]
Its just not something I could ever do, no matter the circumstances. Old or young.
I’ve always said I’d be out tricking on the corner before I’d give my dogs away, unless it was to someone very close to me I could keep tabs on. Because it would be easier to look at myself in the mirror knowing I was a wh*re rather than wondering about the fate of these two.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153800862252883&set=pcb.10153800868147883&type=3&theater
:sadsmile:[/QUOTE]
Ah ha! I see in the background shelves with bones. Me thinks these two might have gotten a treat. 
Very adorable!
Many years ago, we got a beautiful, older, cocker spaniel. Her owners had taken her to our vet to be PTS. Vet couldn’t do it, and asked them if he could try to re-home the dog. He called us and we took her. She adjusted wonderfully and had many more good years with us.
Having raised two high-energy puppies in as many years (Aussie and Lab), as I get older I definitely see myself seeking out an older dog, who comes with dogly manners and work ethic pre-installed. :yes:
I’d say loving home…straight to another loving home…I’d be fine with. Home to a strange, loud, busy shelter…NO WAY!!! Kinder to euth. Think of the stress for an old dog!!
Back when I used to work for a vet an elderly lady had to move into assisted living. She had a cat and a small dog. So she came into the clinic and asked for our help to find them homes. Well Tony the other assistant took the cat and I took the dog. The dog turned out to be a Jack Russell Terrier. I found him a perfect home with one of my DHs coworkers. He was the most loved dog ever. He has passed since then and DH has a different job, but every time we run in to the people who adopted them, we get to hear about how he was the greatest dog ever and can’t thank me enough for giving him to them.
I would have kept him if I hadn’t found the perfect home, but I know in my heart I did right by him and the lady who had to part with him. As a side note I can get away with such behavior because DH has dragged several old dogs and cats home for them to live here for the rest of their lives, over the years. Just goes with the territory I guess.
[QUOTE=Gestalt;8761098]
Ah ha! I see in the background shelves with bones. Me thinks these two might have gotten a treat. Very adorable![/QUOTE]
We lost power for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon when it was over 90 degrees and humid as hell outside. The three of us were roasting and bored in the house, so we took a field trip to Petco :yes:
I’ve gotten to the age where the death of every pet is still horrible and sad, but no longer plunges me into a months-long depression like it did in my 20s and 30s. I’ve had multiple oldsters come through the farm in the last few years. They can’t really hurt anything in my house, so even a little incontinence isn’t the end of the world. They mostly do their own thing. When they are unable to get up anymore, or are crying in pain, I have the emergency horse vet come out (sometimes at 2 am) and PTS. I decided 2 cats ago not to stress them out by taking them to the vet; I pay the farm call and have them come to us. Then we bury them out in the pet cemetery under the oaks, in clear violation of county ordinances :lol:. DH and I were out one night digging a grave at 3 am, with floodlights and pickaxes, and we actually found a little humor in a tragic situation by thinking about what the neighbors might be thinking… we’re both there, so clearly neither of us is trying to bury the other, but DD isn’t there, so do they think we did her in?
I give myself 48 hours to cry for them, then go get another castoff from the pound. I’ve got the room and the resources to give them a decent end, so if i can curry favor with the man upstairs, I’ll keep at it until someone takes me to the vet to be PTS. Occasionally we have another critter find us; people [i use the term loosely] find out that DH and I will take in anything, and we find old dogs in the driveway, in the barn, tied to the mailbox, etc.
To answer your original question, every dog, cat and horse we’ve taken in has adjusted just fine within a day. Good food, a nice cool or warm (depending on the season) place to sleep and lots of treats seem to do the trick rather quickly. I would hope the critters I’ve had since kitten and puppyhood would miss me more than our re-homes miss their old families, but maybe not.
“RAT TERRIER W/ Medical Needs & Severe Anxiety Looking For Quiet Adult Home, Loving Young Neutered Male Req Frequent Small Meals, Daily Exercise, Positive Training Only, Lengthy Interview Req To Insure Perfect Placement, $500.”
This ad is in a local paper. Seriously? You expect me to pay you $500? Should be the other way around. He’s not an old dog, but plenty of older ones have fewer issues than this poor guy.
[QUOTE=cbv;8756429]
Speaking of old dogs. If you want a good cry listen to Patty Griffin’s song “Wild Old Dog”. Haunting. My husband won’t let me play it if he is in the car. But sometimes sad, sad songs serve a purpose.[/QUOTE]
Yowza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4SfcOdvB0k
Lyrics:
[I]God is a wild old dog
Someone left out on the highway
I seen him running by me
He don’t belong to no one now
Dropped him out on 93
Mange was setting in on his hips and on his knees
Between the highways running north and south
We pulled on over and we put him out
Willie said he was old and going blind
Momma told me how she didn’t mind
When Willie kicked him with his shoe
He just climbed on in just like he knew
God is a wild old dog
Someone left out on the highway
I seen him running by me
He don’t belong to no one now
It’s lonely on the highway
Sometimes a heart can turn to dust
Get whittled down to nothing
Broken down and crushed
In with the bones of
Wild old dogs
Wild old dogs
Dropped him out on 93
Tall grass was waving there just like the sea
He tore off running like we set him free
Just disappeared right in front of me
God is a wild old dog
Someone left out on the highway
I seen him running by me
He don’t belong to no one now
He don’t belong to no one now[/I]
Not reading the lyrics above. Nope nope nope.
All of my rescues have been seniors of varying age- they’ve all been wonderful.
