Seniors for Seniors

[The Blue Flower]

Here in Richmond, VA the SPCA has a program called Seniors for Seniors. If you're over 60 and you adopt a dog over 5 years old, the cost is only $50 and they throw in a collar, leash, and two feeding dishes. I did it three weeks ago and couldn't be happier I did. My 6 yo beagle-dachshund mix had been surrendered to another shelter, then transferred to the SPCA, so they had no information on her background. What was clear, though, was that she was scared and very depressed. She'd need a lot of love and patience. At 71 years old and living alone, I have both. In less than three weeks, she has blossomed into Miss Playful, Sweet, Happy, and Affectionate. I have a fenced-in yard for her to run in, and she loves to rocket around it at top speed. She's made friends with the dogs who live on either side. I named her Trixie then changed the spelling to Tricksy because she's also a trickster.

Check out your local shelters to see if you can find a similar program. Good luck.

[whathehell]

1. Love your story..

We're exactly the same age, and I'm a dog lover too.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. That's a great program. I plan to foster old dogs

after my two older dogs are gone.

[Ohiogal]

3. What a beautiful story!

You made my day.

[SharonClark]

4. It's a good program and there is/has been a similar

program called Pets for Vets at our local shelter.

[Sherman A1]

5. Excellent!

Sounds like a good program.

[monmouth4]

6. Love your story, you and your Tricksy...nt

[SheltieLover]

7. So happy for you & Tricksy!

I had a Beagle-dachshund mix boy who was a rescue as well. One of the best fur babies I've ever had.

Like Tricksy, once Walter realized he was safe & loved, he was so full of happiness & a love for life that is beyond words.

If you haven't already, you might get your sweetie some tennis balls. Walter would spend hours balancing front feet on one. Others have shared this is a dachshund trait.

Enjoy your new baby & thank you for sharing your joy!

[The Blue Flower]

9. She hasn't shown any interest in balls

She does like her furry toys. Until a couple of nights ago, she ignored them, then she gathered all three of them and put them on the sofa and laid down next to them. Now she takes them outside and carries them around in her mouth. She may associate them with puppies because she's had at least one litter.

This little one wakes up with her tail wagging and ready to play. She's well behaved indoors, and sleeps all night in her bed on the floor beside me. She still won't let anyone else pet her, but she loves running along the fence with the dogs on either side of my house. We're working on getting her to be comfortable with my son and his kids when they visit. But she loves playing with their dog.

[SheltieLover]

15. Awwwwwww

She sounds delightful!

I have a feeling she is very proud of her toys!

She sounds like a read sweetie!

Walter was terrified of kids, too, especially male kids. Hopefully Tricksy will learn to trust and love them.

Hugs to you both!

[wnylib]

8. My local SPCA waives all charges

for seniors on all adoptions.

I live in a senior complex. Nearly everyone has a dog or cat. But apt. rules prohibit more than one 4 footed pet and limits dog size to 30 pounds. So my neighbor has a small dog......and 2 birds.

[LiberalLoner]

10. Thank you for adopting Tricksy and sharing your story

Bless you and Tricksy, in all ways.

[peacebuzzard]

11. that is so wonderful!

[Duppers]

12. You're an inspiration!

Wish hubby & I could take on a senior right now but with 2 huge rescued fur babies - one 120lb-er & an 80lb-er, I don't think hubs & I could handle another fur-baby now and especially at our age.

Hi from Wmsbrg.

[The Blue Flower]

14. Hi back!

nt

[Duppers]

16. 😁 You saw this...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181420065

Re: seniors helping seniors

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. Thank you

[niyad]

17. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story. Wishing you and your Tricksy all love and joy.

[StarryNite]

18. That's an awesome program.

I'm so happy for you and Tricksy. I hope more people do the same.

[JGug1]

19. Adopting Older Dogs

Congratulations. I am a small animal veterinarian and work with a lot of rescue groups.
Good for you. 6 isn't so old. I don't know what I would do without my own, now 8.5 year old rescue dog.

[birdographer]

20. Love it!

We adopt senior dogs. We got a gorgeous border collie who had one owner for her long life and then was turned over to the shelter. She lay in the back of the cage in a ball. Her fur was thin and dry. We brought her home, gave her good food and lots of love and play, and she got happy again. We saw a shelter worker while we were walking her on a greenway--she didn't recognize the dog and when we told her who it was, she cried a lot and hugged the dog and hugged us. Win-win all around. Senior dogs are great!

[Butterflylady]

21. Wonderful story

Most people want a puppy or kitten, so when I read your story I was very happy that you were able to adopt your older furry friend.

After my Oliver died (Siamese lynx) I wanted to adopt. So my son took me our local Humane Society and I told them I wanted to adopt a cat, but the cat had to be older because I'm older. Log story short, I now have Maxy. She's 10 and we're both happy together.

[LiberalFighter]

22. I use to foster and help find homes for rescue dogs.

I found that for the most part they adjust very well. They all have their quirks.

[1plus1equals1]

23. Awesome! The best animal family members I have had (and continue to have) are rescues.

[liberalla]

24. I am so happy for you and tricksy!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

25. In Santa Fe, if you're a senior, the cost to adopt

is half of the regular price. Cats that are over 9 years of age only cost $9.00 to adopt, half if the human adopting is a senior.

I recently adopted a cat and told them to charge me the full amount, with the difference being a donation to the shelter. I am grateful I can afford the full fee.

[warmfeet]

26. Beautiful!

[Karadeniz]

27. Thanks for the heartwarming story! Now let's get practical. Unless you want thousands of flies, the

Poop needs to be picked up every day! We've found the best technique is to buy FOLD TOP sandwich bags. Hold one bag by its longer flap and put your other hand in the second bag. When finished, stuff the hand baggie on top of the poop, fold the treasure up nice and tidy and discard. We keep our trash in the garage, so there's always a big, black bag waiting.

We have an indoor cat who refuses to put poop in the litter box. It's convenient to pick it up with toilet paper and flush it.

I hope you and Tricksy... BTW, I have a rescue dog named Trixie!...
have many, many happy years together... I'm sure you will!

[Mr.Bill]

28. My wife and I are aged 70/67.

We have two dogs now, aged 12/8. when they are gone, we will be too old to take on the 10-15 year resposibility of a puppy. The obvious answer is to adopt a senior dog, which we plan to do. The only downside I can think of is we are on a tight retirement budget and I'm afraid of the price of veterinary care for an older dog, but we will find some way to make it work.

[mrsadm]

29. What a wonderful program!

And thank you for adopting Tricksy!

[BobTheSubgenius]

30. Excellent!

I'm not trying to put him in an early grave, but our Cairn is coming up to 13, and that's getting pretty elderly for a dog. At 68 years old, and considering we're hoping for at least a couple more years for Ozzie, there is no way i'm taking on raising and training a puppy at 70+.

BTW, in case you're not familiar... he is "Ozzie" because Cairn terrier is the same breed as Toto, from the Wizard of Oz.

[Maraya1969]

31. I'm so happy for both of you! I suggest senior dogs for people who don't know if they are

going to stay in the same place for a long time or maybe don't know what they will be doing in the short future years. I adopted one 16 year old chihuahua and had him for a year. It was my pleasure to love him during his twilight. I've also adopted a couple others that were older but they stayed around a lot longer which was fine.

Right now I am unsure of my future and I already have 2 13 year old babies but I've spoken about taking in foster dogs. So far the animal control around here has not sent any announcements for any dogs lately. They have so many kittens!

[GeoWilliam750]

32. Good on you