The month of November has been designated as “National Adopt A Senior Pet Month”, a month dedicated to helping older pets find loving forever homes! A month when shelters and rescues across the country hope that individuals looking to adopt a new furry family member will consider bringing a senior pet into their lives.
There is just something ethereal about the beauty of a senior dog; the wisdom in their eyes, the confidence in their glance, and the tender unassuming way they love. All dogs are beautiful but senior dogs have a way of touching our hearts in a way that changes everything.
Meet Lady! This stunning Mastiff girl’s story is just simply beyond heartbreaking and she really needs our help now.
Lady was surrendered to the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter in August of this year, after two Animal Control Officers were flagged down by her family while they were on the road. Lady’s family explained that they were not permitted to have pets as per their landlord and that Lady had belonged to another family member who could no longer care for her.
A neighbor had allowed Lady to live outside in their yard for the last 9 years as long as her family fed her and did what was needed. This poor girl has spent virtually her entire life living outside with the exception of Hurricane Sandy when she was permitted to come inside. Recently, the neighbor sold their home, which meant Lady needed to go.
Now she sits sad and alone in her kennel waiting for her new beginning, her second chance to live the life she should have had all along. Let’s not allow this to be the end of her journey – no senior should have to spend their days and nights inside shelter walls.
Senior pets 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 them become depressed and are overlooked at the shelters for younger, cuter puppies – let’s not allow this to happen to Lady.
Lady is a very happy, outgoing, and playful girl. She loves stuffies, enjoys a good bone, and will run after a tennis ball but due to her age, doesn’t have a ton of stamina; she tuckers out pretty quickly. She is however a bit jumpy and hasn’t learned much in the way of manners, but she knows how to sit and wants nothing more than to be your best friend.
Unfortunately due to her prior living situation, she was never given the benefit of good socialization and learning manners. Thankfully, she is learning and will need someone who can continue to guide, teach, and show her the ropes of life.
She will throw her bones and toys in the air and actually entertain herself. She is 9 years young, weighs about 97 pounds, and still has tons of love to give and share with you! She is up to date on all her vaccinations, spayed, micro-chipped and heartworm negative.
Lady is very good with handling; however, she can become overstimulated, and will start jumping. Due to her size, she can knock you right down. She does walk nicely on leash, but if you see or encounter other animals on your stroll she will pull to go after them.
She has been at the shelter for a little over two months and does great with meeting new human friends. They have been working on the basics with her, and she is getting the hang of it slowly but surely. She can be a bit stubborn, so she will need a very patient family who will understand her history and allow her to slowly adjust to a home environment.
Lady will need to be your one and only pet in a home with children 16 and over would be best. She is reactive with the dogs both inside and outside, so close contact is best avoided. At the shelter, she will come out of her kennel and go back in without issue, as long as she is the only dog in the run.
You may be reluctant to adopt a senior dog like Lady because you fear that the time with your new best friend will be short, but know that the privilege of loving your senior dog makes every day more special! You and Lady will share companionship, friendship, and a special relationship that grows stronger because of the knowledge that you have given an older dog like her a second chance at life. The love that grows with this knowledge is stronger than the actual pain of the eventual loss.
She will find the softest, warmest spot in your home and be glad to cuddle up with you; she will stay right by your side, no matter how many episodes of a show you watch and fit into your home with ease. Lady will make a very loyal and loving companion.
All dogs love unconditionally, but senior dogs love more deeply. They’ve been around the block a few times, and they’ve seen the best and worst of humanity. They know when they’ve found a good thing, and they’ll spend their remaining years thanking you. If only people understood the undeniable charm of older and wiser dogs, there wouldn’t be so many up for adoption.
If you are considering adding a furry member to your family, look into the eyes of the old and grey ones too. Lady needs a soft place to fall, and you might just find something you didn’t even know you were looking for.
Help us spread the word, adopting a senior dog is wonderful, owning a senior dog is priceless. Please open your heart and home to this beautiful soul. Contact the shelter; adopt Lady!
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 Lady and all the other Featured Dog Friday pups still in search of their forever homes.