Pass on the puppies and give a senior dog a home...they’ll thank you for it

I have been a supporter of taking in elderly dogs for years and although my own were two and three when they took over my life, they are now ten and 11 and showing all the usual signs of having lived a long and naughty life.

I have been fortunate. None of my dogs has ever died from anything other than old age, but friends have not been so lucky, losing theirs to cancer, accidents, poisoning and bloat.

And this is why, when people want to adopt a dog, I always point out that a young age does not necessarily mean a long life ahead.

It is also why, of all the dogs which are given up to the charity I volunteer for’s care, my heart sinks when someone places a pet which is seven years old, or older. It’s not just because I will have to work two or three times as hard to find the right person for that dog, but because those are the dogs whose eyes will haunt me at night.

The bewilderment, the pain of being rejected after years of faithful companionship, the trauma of being dropped off in a strange place by the people they have loved and depended upon all their lives, possibly after being made to live outside for a few months.

Of course, there are times when it is necessary – after an owner has died, for example, but sadly, it is often because they aren’t as cute as they once were, or as fast on walks, or maybe they have a few accidents in the house.

Hello? Have you ever visited an old people’s home? They don’t always smell of violets and there’s a reason for that.

Would you make granny live in the garden if she didn’t make it to the loo one day, or if she needed a walking stick, or regular trips to the doctor? If granddad got angry because his joints ached and the kids kept bumping into him while they played, should he be banned from the house?

The funny thing about adopting an older pet is they are often the ones most grateful for your care.

They rarely need housebreaking, just perhaps more frequent access to the garden, and have gone through the annoying chewing up the best furniture and books at someone else’s expense.

Next time I adopt a dog, it will be a bonded pair of seniors, most likely with black coats, as I know they are the least likely to be homed by anyone else. Who’s brave enough to join me?

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