Pets
Related: About this forumHow old will you be/were you when you decided not to get any more dogs (or cats)?
One of our pups is sick - not ready to go yet, but he's got congestive heart failure - and this prompted a discussion about our "next" dog whenever that comes. We have a six-year-old shelter dog who really loves the company of her brother and I think she'll be lonely without him, again, whenever the time comes.
My husband is on board with another one one day, but then asked, "At what point will we have one dog, and then none? How long do you want to have dogs in our lives?"
Then he kinda pissed me off by mentioning that when I go away, he's left to watch them. FFS, it's a few weekends a year. When I visit my dad or daughters or best friends, if I can take them, I do.
Anyway, I'd love to hear your stories. As for me, I'd like to have a dog or two as long as I possibly can. They're great company and I just love them.
Or unable to care for myself. Whichever comes first.
phylny
(8,379 posts)Sophiegirl
(2,338 posts)Right now, I have three cats. Two that I adopted as kittens and one that adopted me four years ago. Ive had dogs and cats my entire life. Until I am physically unable, I will continue to care for and love my furbabies.
Glamrock
(11,795 posts)And four cats. 3 that we adopted and 1 rescue that adopted me 6 months ago. This is a competition isn't it? LOL!
Even if it is a completion....I think it is a win-win kind of situation.
Glamrock
(11,795 posts)Obviously, I was just messin round.
MichMary
(1,714 posts)but I volunteer at a no-kill shelter, and the saddest situations I see are the ones where a "pet parent" passes away and an animal that has had a wonderful, secure home for his entire life ends up in a shelter. Many of these animals are elderly themselves, sometimes have health issues, and unlikely to quickly find a new home. They are sad, confused, and lonely.
I would never want to do that to an animal. We have three dogs right now, and our youngest is about four years old. She is most likely the last dog we will have. (I'm 62, btw.)
Glamrock
(11,795 posts)I guess my response was a tax bit glib. Something I'll have to think about later in life.
MichMary
(1,714 posts)are somewhat older than us, and they specifically adopt elderly shelter dogs. I give them a lot of credit. The heartbreak when one of my furbuddies dies is not something I could go through as often as they do.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)And leaving them money to help make that easier is going to be a priority in my will.
My 1st dog got lost.
Next, a cat was squished by a car.
Then my 2nd dog was shot by a park ranger who thought he was out alone and chasing deer.
I don't seem to do well with plants either.
phylny
(8,379 posts)I had ants last year, but they all died also... fortunately.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)She also had a condition in her will that they would be taken care of if something happened to her. She gave 4 older pups a great end of life and enjoyed their love and company in her later years. If I remember right she did this around age 70, she died at 82.
phylny
(8,379 posts)Our daughters have always assured us they'd take our dogs if something happened to us. What a heartwarming story about your aunt.
Our dog and cat will outlive us. I'm certain it's their primary mission in life!
phylny
(8,379 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,282 posts)my last dog would pass away the day before I do.
Realistically, I can understand that the time may come when I can't take care of a dog or may have to live in a place where they are not allowed.
phylny
(8,379 posts)TeamPooka
(24,221 posts)CatMor
(6,212 posts)PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,848 posts)I'm at a stage in my life where I'm doing a lot of traveling and it would be irresponsible of me to have anything that needs care and companionship.
But if I ever reach a time when I won't be traveling, I fully intend to get cats again. I'll adopt the oldest ones I can find. I will need to figure out what arrangements to make if I die while still having a cat or several.
I have told my son that if I ever need to go into a nursing home, make sure to find me one with resident cats. No matter how senile I might get, I will always love and want to be with cats.
Rhiannon12866
(205,220 posts)The eldest was my Barney, a beautiful cocker spaniel who had been used as a "stud dog" at a "commercial kennel" and when he got too old they had no more use for him. Fortunately he was rescued by a terrific woman who I've come to know in rescue and my mother saw him on the local "pet connection" segment of the news and called me because he looked so much like the beloved dog I grew up with.
He had a sad story, he was 10 or 11, had never lived with people and wasn't housebroken. I called before the segment was even over. And he turned out to be the most wonderful dog with the best temperament and because he learned fast, he was the best dog I ever had for not "going" in the house. I had him for another eight years and I still miss him.
His is a rather extreme story, but there are a lot of older dogs out there looking for homes and in my experience they make the best pets.
shraby
(21,946 posts)If we got a dog or a cat, if we died, there's no guarantee that someone in the family would be willing to take it in. A cat has a better chance than a dog that needs taken out a few times a day.
We decided that about 5 years ago when we were 69/70.
Since that time, a stray cat has moved in. It was toward fall when it showed up on our deck and we convinced it to stay and is now part of our family. It has adopted Mr. Shraby.
It was not a part of our plans to leave an orphan animal, but our son will take this one in if it outlives us.
CountAllVotes
(20,868 posts)He was recovering from heart surgery and was told to walk a lot so he got a dog to walk himself around as well as the dog.
Sadly, my Dad died less than 2 years later and that left my mother to care for the dog and she did not mind a bit as she loved dogs.
She took that dog everywhere with her and even flew him on a plane to go visit her foster sister. Her world revolved around the dog and if the dog was not welcome where she was, then she left.
She died a few years later and I stepped up to the plate and swore that I would care for the dog for the rest of his life which included a need to be professionally groomed every six weeks (!) .
I kept my word. The dog lived to be abt. 10 years old and I was devastated when he died!
He was a lovely dog and he got along pretty good with the cats I had at that time. I recall sitting in a recliner crying my eyes out after the dog had died and my old white kitty that lived to be 18 years old jumped on my lap and licked the tears off my cheek. She was such a loving cat and she loved the dog too and missed him greatly.
I have zero regrets and I am glad I was able to care for him until his time came. I am also glad that I was able to do this for Mother as it was really the very least I could do for her and the dog too and I knew that this was the most important thing I could do for her after she was gone and that was to care for her beloved dog which became ... my beloved dog!
As for the cats I have today, I can only hope that should I die that some one some where will "step up to the plate" so to speak. When I begin to worry abt. it, I think to myself, "Had I not adopted these cats from the shelter, they would have been put down if no one had come to adopt them so why should I not adopt and care for them if I can and am willing to do so?".
I just hope I never get to the point that I cannot but I refuse to allow this fear to rule my life as it may be insignificant hopefully. You cannot let fear ruin your life and if having a dog/cat/whatever to make your life better (and the animal's life too) well ... don't allow it to have that much power in your life. That's what I think ...
If you really are concerned you can set-up a "pet trust" but details surrounding this idea have been rather dubious I've noted. That said, it may work very well depending on your situation and if you have money to set-up something like this. It is costly, I know that much.
Glamrock
(11,795 posts)Dead or when my wife dies.....I'm already incapable of taking care of myself.
exboyfil
(17,862 posts)and I have my last dogs and cat. My Border Collie is 12 and my Aussie/Sheltie is 10. The cat is 10 as well.
I have always had dogs except for a short time when I was first out of college.
I need to scale back my life in anticipation of retirement. I spend more on healthcare for one of my dogs than I pay for myself.
It is going to be painful because I walk everyday with the dogs (at least three miles and up to ten some Saturdays or Sundays). When I walk without them it always seems like something is missing.
Rebl2
(13,492 posts)about volunteering at a shelter or fostering in the future when you are are without any pets.
All of our pets have come from the shelter. We have also given them contributions and volunteered.
iscooterliberally
(2,860 posts)When I get a bit closer to retirement I might foster them so they don't get left behind if I go first. I want to have a plan in place so that they are cared for. That's why I like the idea of fostering them. The down side is that you might have to give up the animal to an adopter. The upside is that you don't have to worry about vet bills if the rescue has its act together. All you have to do is feed them, walk them and love them. I'm lucky that my wife is just as much of an animal person as I am.
HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)but now the kids are out of the house and we have more freedom, the animals keep us tied down more, especially our Greyhound that has to be fed twice a day. We would like to be able to up and leave for the weekend, to go camping, or short trips, but we have to deal with the animals if we do, either boarding them or finding someone to care for them. We also want to move to a smaller place and one place we are looking at won't allow a dog that big. We are in our fifties.
So we are seriously thinking that these might be our last two pets.
phylny
(8,379 posts)Glamrock
(11,795 posts)I'd say by the responses here that DU is a pretty good goddamn society!
Rebl2
(13,492 posts)we adopted our cat from will take back animals (even if it didnt come from their shelter) that can no longer be cared for by elderly people or that have to go into nursing homes.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)one like that
dawg day
(7,947 posts)He didn't want to worry about leaving the pet alone.
No Vested Interest
(5,166 posts)eventual nursing care for him, with me visiting every day, etc.
More recently, a daughter had a stroke, requiring long-term care, with much time and management input by Mama (me.)
I was very happy when my other daughter adopted a small poodle mix about two years ago, so now I have a sweet, loving granddog.
This daughter had ferrets for a long time, then cats - still has two cats, but I don't do well with resident cats. I'm fine with other people's cats, but not for myself.
Now I'm a senior senior.- Love seeing animals of all sorts, but personal care by me, is a thing of the past.
Lefta Dissenter
(6,622 posts)But I'm just watching my back. I'm always a little worried that my daughter will bump me off because she wants my two dogs.
Seriously, I'm fortunate in that I know that she will provide well for whatever pets I have at the time I go.
Pachamama
(16,887 posts)Me too....
Especially worried about my kids knocking me off to get them....
Lefta Dissenter
(6,622 posts)Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)I have made permanent $ and legal protection for my pets in my living will. Including the names of my children/relatives/friends who have agreed to take care of them in the event I cant be there for them.
It is the very least I can do in comparison to the joy they all have brought me.
😻
sinkingfeeling
(51,445 posts)to kennel older dogs for 3 or more weeks at a time. I lost my 15 1/2 year old suddenly on Black Friday, 2017. His "brother" is 15 and just spent a week in the hospital with vestibular syndrome and will now have physical therapy.
I have 3 outdoor, semi-feral cats that a neighborhood young man feeds for me while I'm gone. They just don't require the same things as a dog.
Lisa0825
(14,487 posts)She was 79 and missed having a cat since her beloved pet passed away earlier that year. They adopted an adult cat for her, and pledged to care for it themselves when the time came that she could not care for it or she passed.
I hope to have a plan like that by then myself.
appleannie1943
(1,303 posts)the dog will possibly go before us. If he does, he will be our last dog. I worry about the cats and what will become of them. One of them will not go anywhere near anyone but me. The other two would settle in with other people but I have no idea who. All are completely indoor cats.
Rebl2
(13,492 posts)shelters around you and see if they might take them when you can no longer care for them. If a shelter agrees to take them, make sure someone else knows your plans for your kitties.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)their next meal. I try to tell them that I have worked it out and have even hung a note on the refrigerator on who to call in that event. But they still seemed worried they might miss a meal or two.
catrose
(5,065 posts)Then last year we kept one of the foster kittens that we thought would have a hard time getting adopted. Cats can live 20 years or so; I'm not sure I could care for them in my 80s. The current batch are 2 at 10 years, 1 at 6, 3, 2, 1 years each. My son knows he has to care for any that are left, and we've left money in our wills to help care for or adopt out each one. He has names of people and organizations that will help him with the adoption part, if he goes that route.
If I'm left with none and am still able to care for pets, I'll volunteer as a foster. Rescues are always looking for people to foster single animals, those that don't want to be part of a herd. Mothers and babies can't live in a shelter, but--pro tip--babies are a lot of work! Probably I'd go with senior cats. They end up in shelters and rescues all the time when their owners pass or go into a nursing home. I know if I died before the cat was placed, the rescue would take it back.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)It was just too heart breaking and took a long time to mentally let him go.
Normally, I would have gone out right away and found another, but I decided that not knowing how much longer I would be around, it wasn't fair to leave another dog to the care of one of the kids or grandkids. They would never pay as much attention or consideration as I had. So, I remedied the situation by dog-sitting with my grandson's beagle and love it. It's kind of like having grandkids...you can send them home if they become too much to care for. I get my puppy fix and don't get too tired. He is SO good and cooperative. AND, I don't have any vet bills.
japple
(9,821 posts)have been turned in at the animal shelter or ones who have been lost/strayed. I'm nearly 70 and sharing housing with a sister who is older. We have 5 cats between us ranging in age from 5 yrs. to 19 yrs. We have already decided that we might foster kittens or cats for short-term or elders for long-term or life. We have made provisions for our kitties in case anything ever happens to us while they are still alive.
Like others who posted before me who have worked in animal rescue, the saddest cases are those where the human companion dies and the family surrenders the pet to the county shelter. Those babies are sad, confused, depressed, and just lose their will because they have been abandoned. Sometimes they are overlooked for adoption/rescue because they appear to be lethargic.
elfin
(6,262 posts)Made kids promise to take the current dickens if "the time comes."
applegrove
(118,622 posts)i will not have to worry about their future if something happens to me. The fostered cats will be in the foster system. The older cats will have had a home.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,783 posts)Because I love them so much.
But with the traveling we are doing and my clients allergic to animal dander, I am unable to have them and it would not be fair to leave them so often.
quartz007
(1,216 posts)My dog is almost 14 years old. When she is 20, I will be 80.
She is healthy as a horse. Never was sick in her life. She walks 2 miles total every day with me on the beach. But the real secret to her health is best dry dog food on market, which has lamb as 1st ingredient. And I brush her teeth every day. Occasional teeth cleaning at the vet is never enough to prevent gum disease by age 10 or so. The germs in dogs gums attack the kidneys and heart and that kills the dog before it's time.
Permanut
(5,602 posts)72 now. Here's my "no more dogs" story.
Back in 2013, our little 15 year old Jack Russell terrier Murphy became so ill that his quality of life was almost zero, with no chance of recovery. We did what dog owners do, and took on the responsibility of ending his pain and suffering. So So hard.
The emotional pain was so great for us that we decided we didn't want to go through that again. We had some special diet food left, and I took it to the Oregon Humane Society and donated it about a week later. Well, while I was there, I decided I would just go LOOK at the shelter dogs, not to adopt one, mind you, just to visit. You see where this is going, right?
As I was strolling through the kennel area, I passed one kennel with a little 10 year old Jack Russell named Joey. He looked at me, you know how they do, and kind of squeaked at me to stop and visit. So I did, but I didn't take him home. I told my wife about Joey, and she wanted to go see him. We went back, and spent some time with Joey in the family visiting area, and yes, we did take him home.
That was over 4 years ago, and Joey is sitting at my feet as I type this. He rescued us.
snacker
(3,619 posts)Once I left the indoor farm my parents, who grew up in the projects, had erected and made us kids care for them all. They destroyed any pet-ownership of all their children. You should not force kids to care for pets they never asked for. You should not have 12 species in the same house.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)I will also make certain they have a respondsible new owner when I am gone.
Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)We volunteer for a national rescue group (two of our dogs are 'failed fosters'). So we will have dogs for as long as we possibly can and when we either die or have to go somewhere where we can't have dogs, any current dogs will go to the rescue group we volunteer with to be rehomed. I can't imagine our life without our dogs. And I know how through our rescue group is about making sure that dogs get placed in homes that are right for them.
doc03
(35,325 posts)don't want to be tied down. I can come and go as I please now and go away for weeks without
worrying about taking care of a dog.
JustAnotherGen
(31,811 posts)I want to adopt/foster senior dogs when I'm older.
A Maltese puppy moved in with us in October 2016. My mother in law's was 17 when he died, and the breed is known for longevity. If he lives that long I will be 60 when he dies.
So at that point - I will either foster or adopt Senior dogs.
Boomer
(4,168 posts)We're only in our 60s, but neither of us is in good health, so after a lifetime of owning cats and dogs, we reaching the decision to downsize as our pets aged out of the family. It was time to think practically about reducing the physical and financial strain on us, especially as we edged closer to retirement.
Unfortunately, we forgot to factor in that we're both f*cking insane.
In the space of a few years after our vow to downsize, we have adopted two rescue hounds that weigh over 75lbs each, the largest sized dogs we've ever owned. At least they're middle-aged. We also have two very young cats, who showed up in our backyard as feral kittens. By the time we tamed them, we were too attached to give them away.
Our food and vet bills have doubled, the dogs are strong enough to pull us off our feet, and the cats are very likely to outlive us.
You can't fix crazy. So I guess we'll figure it all out as we go along.
phylny
(8,379 posts)fostering, adopting older dogs, or making plans for when they are gone.
mopinko
(70,081 posts)i have a small menagerie, and plan to leave my house to whoever is there to take care of me when i cant take care of myself. the animals come w the house.
not sure how many more puppies i have in me, tho.
i have a 5 mo old shelter mutt right now who is kinda driving me crazy. he is going to obedience bootcamp next week. hopefully that will get us over the crazy-puppy-hump.
i would love to have another victorian bulldog in my life, and could tackle that now, but yeah, at 63, reconsidering everything in my life. the one i have now was a dream to train, but his half brother was a handful and a half.
notawinger
(79 posts)I lost my dog in August. The void in my heart is huge but I am getting older and nagging health problems so I have decided no more pets. It hurts!!
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)a dog abandoned at a job site, and the workers brought her to the office.
I fell in love at once and took her home.
We kept her in isolation at first and she had bad diarrhea...then we moved her into our home
We put a muzzle on her cause we had cats...she seemed to ignore them, so we removed the muzzle.
She never bothered the cats.
I loved her like I loved my father...the last person to whom I gave my unmitigated love, and when he died when I was 16 it was more than my body could take, and I collapsed when they told me he was dead.
Poochy was my constant companion...I left my husband, and took Poochy.
She LOVED riding in the car and barked ferociously to the point of a bloody mouth at big rigs...I always wondered what her history was?
When I finally knew she was so sick she would need to be put out of her misery, we drove all around all over for many hours
Our final destination was the vet and I stayed with her as she died...that was 20 years ago, and I still cry for her.