Friday, January 25, 2008
Older Dogs - It's Just Icing on the Cake!
by Sandy Clabaugh
The grey hair of an aging dog, spreading across the muzzle and over the eyebrows, is known as "frosting." And to me, there's nothing more wonderful than a frosted face with all the wisdom and experience it communicates and all the love it speaks of that is still there to give.
We understand the heartbreak that results when people are forced to put an older pet in a shelter. But regardless of the cause of the dog's being relinquished, our hearts melt for these senior citizens. We know they have earned security with age, not change. We also know it's likely that they will be waiting for a forever home much longer than the youngsters in the shelter, because many people are reluctant to adopt an older dog.
People give many reasons for not considering the older dogs available for adoption, but in fact, an older dog may be the perfect pet for you.
People say…"An older dog won't bond with me like a young one will." It's true that an older dog doesn't bond as a young one does; an older dog usually bonds with new guardians even more than a young dog. This statement is actually true—an older dog usually bonds with new guardians even more than a young dog. Animals who have experienced loss or a difficult past often display their desire to form new and stronger attachments. They have found someone to love them and they have no intention of letting go!
People say…"An older dog up for adoption must have problems, or it wouldn't need rescuing." The reality is that pets enter shelters and rescue societies for every imaginable reason. Often it's not the dog that has the problem, but the human. Many people get a dog because it seems like the thing to do, not because they truly appreciate the qualities—and needs—of the species. Others are forced to surrender their pets for personal reasons. There may be a problem with a particular dog, but you are much less likely to find a senior dog that isn't housebroken or a senior dog that snaps; older dogs have usually overcome any bad habits they had when they were young.
People say…"An older dog will have more medical bills." To some extent, this may be true, in that older dogs need more medical "supervision," such as geriatric testing during their annual exams. But there is no health guarantee for a dog of any age. One-year-old dogs can die of cancer. And puppies have larger immediate medical bills because of their need for vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery. And don't forget the bills for chewed shoes and shredded drapes!
People say… "We won't have much time to enjoy her." There are no more guarantees for our dogs than for our human loved ones. You never know how long a beloved pet, or person, will be with you. Love is what matters, no matter how long we might be able to share it.
So the next time you consider getting a "new" dog, don't pass those frosted faces by so quickly. You might be giving up the sweetest dog that has ever graced your home and your life.
The grey hair of an aging dog, spreading across the muzzle and over the eyebrows, is known as "frosting." And to me, there's nothing more wonderful than a frosted face with all the wisdom and experience it communicates and all the love it speaks of that is still there to give.
We understand the heartbreak that results when people are forced to put an older pet in a shelter. But regardless of the cause of the dog's being relinquished, our hearts melt for these senior citizens. We know they have earned security with age, not change. We also know it's likely that they will be waiting for a forever home much longer than the youngsters in the shelter, because many people are reluctant to adopt an older dog.
People give many reasons for not considering the older dogs available for adoption, but in fact, an older dog may be the perfect pet for you.
People say…"An older dog won't bond with me like a young one will." It's true that an older dog doesn't bond as a young one does; an older dog usually bonds with new guardians even more than a young dog. This statement is actually true—an older dog usually bonds with new guardians even more than a young dog. Animals who have experienced loss or a difficult past often display their desire to form new and stronger attachments. They have found someone to love them and they have no intention of letting go!
People say…"An older dog up for adoption must have problems, or it wouldn't need rescuing." The reality is that pets enter shelters and rescue societies for every imaginable reason. Often it's not the dog that has the problem, but the human. Many people get a dog because it seems like the thing to do, not because they truly appreciate the qualities—and needs—of the species. Others are forced to surrender their pets for personal reasons. There may be a problem with a particular dog, but you are much less likely to find a senior dog that isn't housebroken or a senior dog that snaps; older dogs have usually overcome any bad habits they had when they were young.
People say…"An older dog will have more medical bills." To some extent, this may be true, in that older dogs need more medical "supervision," such as geriatric testing during their annual exams. But there is no health guarantee for a dog of any age. One-year-old dogs can die of cancer. And puppies have larger immediate medical bills because of their need for vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery. And don't forget the bills for chewed shoes and shredded drapes!
People say… "We won't have much time to enjoy her." There are no more guarantees for our dogs than for our human loved ones. You never know how long a beloved pet, or person, will be with you. Love is what matters, no matter how long we might be able to share it.
So the next time you consider getting a "new" dog, don't pass those frosted faces by so quickly. You might be giving up the sweetest dog that has ever graced your home and your life.
# posted by Herb @ 10:40 PM 
