Here's a "spot-on" Happy Tail from Sandra in Spring Valley, CA:
We had decided that we wanted to give a loving home to an older dog as we had space and a lot of love to give. We had seen Spot on Petfinder and went to the El Cajon Animal Control to see him.
He was 11 years old, extremely overweight, arthritic, and deaf, but his personality shined through. Even though it was very hard for him to get up with the extra weight and the arthritis, he came over to greet us, wagging his tail.
We went home and discussed it, and decided we wanted to share our home with him. We went down to the shelter and adopted him the next day.
He was so happy to come home with us, he climbed over me in the driver's seat and jumped out as soon as got home. His energy level tripled once he came home with us. Within two days he fit in so well it was as if he had lived here all his life! His wonderful personality, indomitable spirit, and loving nature completely won our hearts and made him a permanent member of our family.
We immediately put him on a diet and made sure he got plenty of
exercise. By his first checkup he had lost 15 lbs., and only had 25
more to go. He gained more energy, stamina and agility. He is so loving
and protective, he wins us over daily.
Even though most people
wouldn't have considered him because of his age and limitations, we
feel very privileged to have Spot in our family! In the time we've had
him, he has gained such a youthful outlook that it's hard to believe he
is 11 years old. We love him and are so happy to have him as part of
out family!
See more pets at El Cajon Animal Control.
Here's a "spot-on" Happy Tail from Sandra in Spring Valley, CA:
We have a Dalmation named Sammy, we have had her since she was a puppy. As a puppy she was wild, but with some trainning she has turned into the BEST dog/member of our family ever. She is calm (believe it, many have commented on how calm she was, after trainning her). She has always been very gentle and loving toward babbies and puppies. Although she always stood up to a threat (dog or person). She will be 15 in August, she is so much weaker now, she eats like a horse, but her back end has lost so much muscle that she falls a lot. We live on a mountain top in Tennessee and Sammy always has loved the mountains and freash air. I just pray when her time comes God will take her in her sleep, cause she is such a gentle loving dog.
I just love Dalmations! I owned (or rather she owned me!) a Dalmation named Carol for 15 years, and she was the best dog ever. Carol was always happy even until the very end. Sadly, she passed away November 3, 2008 and our house is just not the same without her. I hope one day to get another one. My other dog misses her so much we tried getting another dog, but we needed one that is cat friendly. Carol was everybody friendly.
That story really touched my heart and bless those people for opening their homes to an older dog.
I am glad you rescued this Dalmation, Spot. He is certainly adorable in this photo. I'm very happy he will have a good home for the rest of his life. I always rescue dogs from shelters and found one of mine as a stray and he was the best, most adorable, loving, and smartest dog anyone could want.
What a wonderful happy ending. I am a life-long dalmatian owner, so I know how wonderfully loyal and loving they are. The fact that this pup was older makes the tale all the more sweet.
I am currently owned by my Petfinder Dalmatian alum Jay-J, and my first ever non dalmatian, a chinese crested named Saffy, also found on Petfinder.
Each dog took many months for me to find, but was well worth the wait.
I will always have a dalmatian, and I will always use Petfinder as my first stop for finding my new best friend
-Lisa Hartman
This story made me cry. My 10 year old dog just passed away a few weeks ago. All dogs deserve a loving home and a family of their own, even the old ones. I am so happy for Spot, that he will finally get to see what life can be like when he is loved by a family. May he have many more years now that he has found his forever family!
I just LOVE this story and admire what Sandra and her family did for Spot. Older dogs deserve loving homes as much as any other dog, and they are calmer, trained, and so appreciative of having the chance to end their lives in a loving home. I hope many people read this and do the same thing. Our older shelter dogs are often overlooked and they have a LOT to give, regarless of the length of their life.