- Joined
- Aug 16, 2014
- Messages
- 1,014
Unfortunately at a shelter, 7 years is considered senior for several reason. First of all is their general health. Many animals who end up in shelters haven't received proper vetting throughout their lives, so their bodies are 'older' than other dogs who have been well cared for. Second, and this is going to sound cruel, but trust me: People SUCK. Cute puppies and energetic dogs get picked. Older, more sedate dogs are wrongly seen as 'uninterested' when they are merely calmer or even depressed at having been adopted.
This is one reason I started striving to home more seniors and 'problem' animals (critters to unsociable or unattractive) to be likely to be adopted. They all deserve a chance.
It's so unfair people won't give older dogs a chance. I honestly never thought I would adopt an older dog because they have less energy. The plan was to foster older dogs so they could have the most loving and comfortable life in a home and a family. If they were adopted that would be stellar but if they passed at our place they at least they spent their golden years well loved. Then Floofy Bear came into our lives and totally threw the idea of of older dog=calm dog
I think it's wonderful you've opened your home to the animals that are less likely to be adopted. I bet a lot of the unsociable and sedate critters who have come to you have really perked up. It's amazing how a little love and trust will transform an animal.
If you're fostering him, does that mean you're going to give him up again in a few months to a new family, or is this little one here to stay for good?
He's here to stay The Animal League lovingly calls us 'failed fosters' because we caved and adopted him. There's something special about him and as selfish as it sounds I just couldn't imagine another family loving him as much as we do. He's grown so close to me even in the week we've had him. I have a lot of healthy problems and he seems to know when I'm going to get sick. The other day I was feel dizzy and he started barking like crazy. To get him to hush I had to sit down and give him snuggles. I then had a black out and didn't wake up for a few minutes. If he hadn't had barked like that I would have fallen and hit my head on the coffee table. I feel like he's taking care of me because of all the love I'm giving him. I know it sounds crazy because he's a dog but I feel like the little guy and I already have a special bond.