November is Senior Pet Month Ambassador team member @zoemac helped our Content Exec., Danielle create this lovely celebration of some of the seniors Zoe has loved and left …
Today’s Questions:
Love all these guys! I’d always pick a senior pet over a younger one if everything else was evenly matched - I feel you benefit significantly from their wisdom and enthusiasm! Samson (the now 19-year-old cat) is my eldest pet so far.
So agree @zoemac it’s such a privilege to care for every pet but seniors bring a very special kind of calming peace … their pet therapy gift.
Over the years we’ve looked after many, some with special needs. Our eldest was a beautiful Burmese called Izzy, or Princess Isabella, we even shared the same hair color 
Sadly we lost her earlier this year at the grand old age of 21 … they really do leave their well worn paw prints on our 
I looked after 2 cats in Kent last summer. One was 21 years old and the owner warned me she could die during our stay. She did. She could hardly move. She did not est. She was do feeble. So light (2 kilos ? Only bones)
I thought going to the vet was an option. But the owner prefered her cat to die at home… it was hard to face that situation. I did not want to burry her, the gardener has been in charge.
I wonder whether i will apply for very old sick and dying pets in the future.
It’s very hard
That is hard. I was invited back to a sit and the dog is now 15 and is slowing down considerably. I did consider whether I was up for that happening (it was a 3-month sit), but I decided I was (though I ended up not being able to get there). It would be a whole other matter though if they had wanted him to pass at home. How lovely you were there to assist, though. It would have meant a lot to the owner.
@zoemac, the owner knew it was very hard for me as i had lost my beloved dog 2months before, but she thanked me on her feedbac k, told the story.
I have looked after 3 dogs in Costwolds, Maddie was an old labrador. 19 years old (my vet could not believe me…)
She was running so quickly, chasing the owner’s young bouledogue i was afraid she could die of an heat attack.
Marie, her owner told me lately she has passed away. Crossed the rainbow as you say (this does not exist in french, I don’t see what could be the equivalent)
I saw this yesterday
Very interesting article. I think that the same thing is happening in the US. I volunteer at a shelter and it is heart breaking to see how many pets are surrendered when someone dies and none of the family members step up to take their beloved old pup- of course they will happily take their house and stock portfolio! Many senior citizens are willing to foster pets or volunteer at the shelters. This gives them a way to have positive pet contact without a longterm commitment.
@Southernsitter .it’s a very hard décision to take when you are in your seventies…
after the loss of my dog last june i was anxious. I wanted a new dog but in 10 years time how shall we be, my husband and i ?
Shall we be able to walk a dog, what would happen to him If we die or are unable to look after him (and us…)
Having no sibblings, no kids, no family left makes things more difficult. We can’t count on neighbours or friends
I chose life. I decided to adopt a new puppy thinking he will oblige us to walk everyday. He would make us young. I cross my fingers… I hope it will be true.
I have made a legacy through a will to help a rescue foundation. Hoping it will look after Tahoe and find him new masters.
I could not help a shelter taking at home a dog who will be adopted later on by another family. It would be heartbreaking…
Am i selfish?
Not selfish at all. Everyone has to find their own path. We were lucky, because we had good friends who loved our last pup ( who has since died) and they agreed to take our dog if we died first. We put money in our will so they would have funds to care for her. Her death devastated me to the point that for a while I thought that I could never get another dog. After almost 2 years, there are now days when I want to get my own dog again, but for now, between volunteering, fostering and pet sitting, I am getting enough puppy love to keep me happy!
