lick - pet crusader So Lucky to Have
Older dogs know their manners, have at least some house and obedience training, are more focused and mellow, not requiring your every moment of attention. Most golden oldies know what “no” means and are happy to lay by your side. They typically sleep through the night without waking you for potty breaks and have grown into their paws and personality, so you know what you are signing up for when you adopt a senior dog. And yet, since ‘50 is the new 30’you might be surprised to see just how much zest many senior dogs still have. Adopting a senior dog is a no brainer to me, yet older dogs often get passed over at shelters for puppies. Many homeless old dogs were once owned by someone while others wait well into their later years to get that special human they can love and be loved by. As Board President of The Grey Muzzle Organization (learn more on page 106 in this publication), I often hear from people that they are afraid to adopt a senior because they can’t bear to lose the dog so quickly. Sadly, there are no guarantees in life, and a puppy can
get into mischief or have a genetic illness. A young dog can escape your grasp and meet an unhappy end. Don’t focus on the fact that your time together may be short. What is important is that you make the most of whatever time you have together. There’s nothing as rewarding as making the remaining days, weeks, months or years precious for an older animal. Since 2000, my husband and I have been the proud parents of rescued senior Akitas, and each has had his or her own unique personality. In 2020, we were saddened by the loss of our darling Haiku who crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 15.
He had truly been our child and had gone on many adventures. He was our first dog to dip paws in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and traveled to more than a dozen states! A few months after Haiku left this earthly plane, unknown to me, my husband, Paul, planned a mountain getaway for our 30th Anniversary. Two days prior to our special day, a dear friend alerted me to a 10-year old Akita who had been homeless for more than a month. I wasn’t ready to fall in love yet, but the dog’s picture melted my heart. I showed Kiko’s photo to my hubby and I’m sure he instantly fell in love too. We adopted Princess Kiko on our anniversary and our meeting was totally meant to be! My surprise getaway turned out to be just a 15-minute drive to where Kiko was sheltered! In our first two weeks together, somber Kiko began to blossom. Always proud to bring us her stuffed slothy or hedgie in gratitude
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