It’s heartbreaking to think about all the senior animals who had once been cherished family pets before they found themselves frightened and alone in a shelter. No dog wants to end up homeless, after all, sitting behind bars in a shelter kennel is hardly anyone’s idea of a good time. Tragically, the dogs who wait the longest are often the ones with the least amount of time to waste.
Meet the beautiful Cerina! Cerina was brought in to the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter in October of 2021 by an Animal Control Officer after her family lost their home. She was quiet, a bit withdrawn and anxious when she first arrived, but who could blame her after losing the only home she had ever known. It thankfully did not take long and Cerina’s resilience began to shine through.
The shelter has stated that Cerina is like an old soul with wisdom to share, so many dogs stay stressed out and have trouble with the chaos that is the day-to-day life in a shelter but not her she is always a ray of sunshine, and she will brighten someone’s world as soon as she is given the opportunity that she is patiently waiting for. She would be thrilled with just the basics, a home of her own, a family to love, a bed to cuddle up in and a window to look out of and get some sunshine on her face. She is sweet, gentle, and looking for her place in this world.
It’s a sad fact that senior dogs like Cerina tend to spend the longest amount of time at a shelter or rescue before finding their forever homes, if they find one at all. Often, they live the rest of their lives out in a shelter kennel. Many of the older dogs become depressed and are overlooked at the shelters for younger, cuter puppies. When people think about adopting a dog they tend to think of a warm, cuddly, tail wagging, wet nosed puppy. While puppies are adorable, there are also great reasons to consider adopting an older dog.
Adopt an older dog and you will see exactly what gratitude really is. They have a special way of showing you how grateful they are for giving them a second chance. They will find the softest, warmest spot in your home and be glad to cuddle up with you. They will stay right by your side, no matter how many episodes of a show you watch. Senior dogs fit into a new home with ease, and are very loyal companions! They love car rides, trips to anyplace and just to be with their people.
This beautiful senior soul is very affectionate and always happy to see you; her head perks up and the tail starts wagging as soon as she sees you coming over to her. She is a love bug and deserves a better life than just existing in an animal shelter.
Cerina is 11 years young and weighs 80 pounds. She is housebroken, knows sit, will give you her paw, is a true delight to walk and spend time with. She loves treats but she has allergies, so she is on a prescription diet and has her own treats specific to allergies as well. The shelter is not sure if Cerinas has just a food allergy, environmental allergies, inside the animal shelter or allergies to grass, pollan and trees. So this medical issue will need to be addressed further.
Allergies are most certainly not a reason to overlook a dog for adoption, and Cerina really deserves a chance to live out her later years in a loving environment. The kind of companionship and care that best meets her needs can’t be found in a busy, noisy, stressful shelter. Yet it is in these shelters that senior dogs like herself often spend weeks, months, or even the rest of their lives while they wait for a potential adopter. Let’s not allow this to happen to Cerina, she has already waited much too long!
Cerina is ready for the next leg of her journey. She must be the one and only pet in a home with children 8 years and up. She is up to date on all vaccinations, spayed, micro-chipped and heartworm negative.
Many people fear that adopting a senior pet will only lead to heartbreak, but instead of worrying about how many years are left, you should focus on the wonderful, fulfilling years you will have together. Cerina still has a lot of love to give and she deserves a human who knows that dogs like her don’t come along that often and when you’re lucky enough to find one, you don’t ever let them go. Can you help make Cerina’s dream come true?
If you care about sweet senior animals as much as we do, help us spread the word, together we can find Cerina a wonderful retirement home where she can kick off her leash, relax her paws, and snuggle in to a warm cozy bed while watching your favorite TV show or just a quiet moment with you gazing at the stars.
Won’t you please open your heart to this beautiful girl and give her the chance she truly deserves? Please go meet her, we guarantee you’ll fall in love!
Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter
300 Horseblock Road
Brookhaven, NY 11719
(631) 451-6950
Be sure to head over to Adoption Central right here on Paws Give Me Purpose, share Cerina and all the other Featured Dog Friday pups still in search of their forever homes.