There’s life (and love) in these old dogs yet

[G_j]

http://slideshow.today.com/slideshow/news/theres-life-and-love-in-these-old-dogs-yet-52450673


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Fiona
Los Angeles animal photographer Lori Fusaro is on a mission: To change people's perceptions of older dogs and help more gray-muzzled pooches find loving homes. Alarmed by how many senior dogs languish in shelters because no one wants them, Fusaro launched a “Silver Hearts” photography project to show how much older dogs have to offer. Here are photos from the project.

“Fiona was a 15-year-old stray at the West Valley Animal Shelter (in Los Angeles),” Fusaro said. “She couldn't walk and she had to be carted around in a red wagon." A volunteer with a local animal rescue group took her home thinking she would not last long, but the dog blossomed. Fiona now "dances around the house for treats" and enjoys scratches behind the ears, Fusaro said.

(many more photos at link)

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. rec

[roody]

2. Older dogs are a shorter lifetime

commitment.

[Aerows]

3. Awesome :)

[UtahLib]

4. Lori should be an inspiration to us all. n/t

[Myrina]

5. Senior dogs are amazing!

I've had 2 of my own thus far and foster for a Senior Beagle rescue.
They know. They 'get it'. They understand that you're someone special to them.
And they seem much more go-with-the-flow than younger or more hyper/me-me-me- dogs.

My senior Hank (age 13) is a self-appointed 'ambassador' to the new fosters as they come in - he shows them the routines & leads by example behavior-wise.

[Blue Owl]

6. Few things sadder than an abandoned dog

n/t

[G_j]

7. for sure

a local rescue posted on FB about an elderly dog who was "turned over&quot abandoned)
to the shelter to make room for a young
dog. Like trading in car or something.
Fortunately, the response was overwhelming, and the old dog was adopted. Unfortunately, not every dog is so lucky.

[KittyWampus]

14. can't imagine doing that… and setting such an example for one's kids

[grilled onions]

8. It would be great to be able to buy pics of these dogs....

to have in the office(great inspiration and perhaps nudge a couple into adopting) or put on t-shirts etc to really get the word out. Age is just a number but dog love is forever.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Gus

[G_j]

19. Handsome

& distinguished!

[Liberal_in_LA]

28. awww

[Diclotican]

10. G_j

G_j

Old animals - old dogs can of course blossom if they are getting to people who care for them - and who love them without hestitation... Dogs can as humans getting depressions - and feel the world is caving in to them. And where they might lost the human companion..

If they is getting a second chance - and a human who is bounding to the dog - the dog can blossom again - and be given a few more years - in a more happy seting...

But then again - I have never understood why anyone would just disband a dog when it comes at age - they have been a loyal friend who care as well for you as you for them - and then you just disband it for a brand new "toy" when the age are setting in... That is so wrong in most levels...

Diclotican

[Pat Riot]

15. You last point hits me in the feels big time.

I just lost my poor old mutt at 13. I got her when she was 4 and the shelter had owner surrender papers which stated that she spent most of her time in the basement or yard. Reason for giving the dog back was "son went to school, husband did not want."
She had a hard life but she and I had a lot of fun together. sniffle

Older dogs are often already trained, need less attention than puppies, they're the best.

[Diclotican]

17. Pat Riot

Pat Riot

How kind of you - that you was able to care for the dog - who have had a hard life, more or less living in a basement or in a yard - many who own dogs, should not have been allowed to have them - as they have no clue, or care for what a dog really need to be a happy dog.
And I understand it is hard, to loose a good friend who I guess have been a great friend of you - and who also have loved you without reservation. Dogs tend to do that .. And yeah, you tend to have great fun together with a dog - as they look at life in a different matter than we do...

Old dogs tend to be very good trained - and also maybe to be little less busy with the attention than a puppy... I have the pleasure of taking care for a old dog sometimes when some friends are in the area - where they live, they have a cat - a nasty cat who would eat the poor dog alive if letting then alone - so I'm taking care for the old dog when they are down here where I live.. A wonderfully old dog who is 14 year sold - but still going strong - She is a cross between Norsk Elghund - and Buehund - two very old dog races in Norway - who even the old vikings had when they was around.. She is a pleasant old dog, who have given me allot of pleasure the time I have cared for her - and even getting me out of the house now and then - if even just for the walk.

Diclotican

[Raine1967]

23. Pat Riot:

I'm sorry about your furbaby. Our Kizzie girl (beagle mix) came to us when she was 3-4 years old. She's having trouble getting up on the hardwood floors these past few months. She is having a hard time walking up/down stairs. I love her so very much. She's going on 10 years now and I just want to make her comfy.

When Kizzie first came into our lives she was so afraid. She never barked, she freaked out from leaves falling in the fall. I love when she smiles. She started to smile about a year after she came to us.


I'm sorry about your mutt. I'm glad she had you.

Once gain:

[G_j]

18. so true

the do have a powerful emotional life, and to add to it they are loyal as any being can be.
They thrive on love.

[xchrom]

11. Du rec. Nt

[Rhiannon12866]

12. I adopted my Barney at age 10 or 11, had him for eight wonderful years

He was just the perfect dog. I adopt senior dogs and have never been disappointed.

Barney:

[G_j]

21. great pic

good looking doggie! Thank you for sharing!

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Thanks so much!

Barney had been a stud dog at a "commercial kennel," had never lived with people and wasn't housebroken. When he got too old and of no more "use," he escaped euthanasia when he was rescued by a wonderful woman and I was lucky enough to see him on local TV. He was so beautiful and his story tugged at my heart, so I called immediately. The dog I grew up with was also a cocker. I met him the very next day and brought him home. He was perfect from day one, smart, gentle, with a wonderful temperament. He had eight additional happy years of life and I miss him still...

[G_j]

24. I think there is an almost unspoken

recognition that we need them for our health also.

[Rhiannon12866]

25. Absolutely!

He saw me through major surgery, think that pic was taken not long after that. He gave me a reason to get better. I've loved all my dogs, but Barney was really special.

[SheilaT]

13. While I am a cat person,

not a dog person, I am a huge believer in adopting older animals.

About 25 years ago the house we bought in Boulder came with a cat, who was then about ten years old. She was great. Less than a year after she passed on, about six years later, we adopted another cat, about four years old, then a few months after that a not quite full grown, albeit well passed kitten stage, cat. That cat came from our vet, who'd gotten her from someone who'd rescued her from abandonment. About ten years after that another cat showed up on our front door, starving, flea-infested, and desperate for a new home. Over the four years that I had her I kept on revising my estimate of her age upwards, and I think when she finally passed on she was at least seventeen.

Currently I am happily without any animal companions, but someday I'll probably want another cat. When that day arrives, I'll go to a shelter and say, give me the oldest cat you have. Or maybe your two oldest.

Animals gotten from a shelter seem to be very aware that they've been given a second chance.

[Diclotican]

20. SheilaT

SheilaT

I'm also more of a cat person, than a dog person, they are little more easy to care for - and can take care of them self - for a little while, if you had to leave for a day or two, of course with some who could come in and look after the cat when away.. And the cats I have "owned" had all being very caring for me - and treated as they was king and queens.... And they was very good at making me do what they wanted.... I had 3 cats in all - cat who discovered that they could get a nice roof over their heads - and a person who would care for their latest whim In return I got in all 3 cats who was cared for me - and who was just a pleasure to live with - even thought they sometimes waked me up in the morning - wanting to get out

My last cat was a cat who was abandoned - cold and little, I doubt she would have survived the winter if I had not taken her in.. But she was happy - I got a new pet - and she lived me for some years.. She even got a few kittens - wonderfully small creatures who gave me some great memories to have for the rest of my life... I had to give her away - as my allergy was killing me, it was a sad day - but it was better to give her to some who could care for he - as I was really sick..

I miss the cat - she was a wonderfully animal who know to twist me around her paw - but who also cared for me - and it looks like she also cared for me - for whatever reason

Diclotican

[lillypaddle]

16. I rescued Coco 10 years ago

Not sure how old she is, but at least 11. Her muzzle has gone all gray, and she's developed these big moles all under her chin. She doesn't appear to be in pain from them, she doesn't flinch when you touch them. I've gotten a few of those myself! She doesn't sleep on the bed much any more, too hard to get up there. She is such a sweet big baby. I dread the day when she leaves me and my other dog, Sally.

Those dogs at the link are just beautiful.

[JustAnotherGen]

26. Never give your heart to a dog

A dogs eyes will break your heart every single time.

[G_j]

30. the only solution

is to get another, ancient wisdom...

[Liberal_in_LA]

27. there's life in old cats also. Thank you for posting this article

[KoKo]

29. K&R

[CitizenLeft]

31. yes there is

I now have a 14 1/2 yr old Labradoodle who has slowed down a lot, but it doesn't stop her from greeting me at the door every day and rubbing against my legs to show how much she missed me during the day. I adore her and she gets away with everything these days. Her favorite thing is to sit in front of the open door and watch with uncontrolled indignation as squirrels and cats and deer cross the lawns with immunity.

My last two Dalmatians lived to be 15 and 16. I loved them to the end and still do.

For anyone who has a senior dog, I swear by this diet - the difference between my Sandy 18 months ago, when she was lethargic and indifferent - to now, when she's alert and engaged - is tremendous (Sandy weights 50+ lbs):

- 1 1/2 cup quality dog food (ingred=no corn, no meat by-products, nothing listed as just "meat" )
- 1/4 can of green beans (uncooked, right out of the can)
- 1/4 can of sweet potatoes or pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix, but pumpkin)
- 1/3 cup cooked rice (brown rice is good)
- packet of uncooked oatmeal (apple cinnamon has apple chunks in it; cinnamon is non-toxic to dogs)
- sprinkling of Craisins (blueberry-infused Craisins are good too)
- 1/2 baked chicken breast (no seasoning at all)

Sandy has blossomed and thrived on this diet in the last 18 months. She can't see so well, and she's got arthritis (she gets Cosequin too), but she's still kickin'. She also gets 200mg of Coenzyme-10 daily, which I believe was the catalyst to her revival along with the diet.

Sorry to blather, but ever since the poison scare of 2006, I'm really cognizant of what's on the ingredient list on a bag of a dog food. Dog nutrition is generally ignored, so I swear by this.

[G_j]

32. thanks

I've had a couple of dogs who lived to be very old. A Saint Bernard and a Dalmatian, I fed them similar diets to yours. The Saint Bernard in particular, loved broccoli and carrots amongst other things.

[CitizenLeft]

33. broccoli and carrots - yep, I used to include carrots...

...but it makes Sandy's stool soft, so I had to cut it out (ack! But yes, broccoli - I haven't tried that yet, I will!

I know it's only anecdotal, but two of my sweet babies died young (9 is young for a mid-sized dog), and I'm certain it had to do with the god-awful dog food I was feeding them. Never again.

[LWolf]

34. I fostered an old gentleman

for some time before I moved out of state; he was a blessing and I remember him with love.