Granny Annie may be missing a leg,
but she's got plenty of love to give.
In a recent blog post, Humane Society of the United States president and CEO Wayne Pacelle writes that he has a special place in his heart for people who adopt senior pets. As the parent of several longevity-blessed pets, I couldn't agree more!but she's got plenty of love to give.
Pacelle posts a letter from blogger Mary Lattanzio about seeing an adoptable three-legged Boston terrier online. Granny Annie was estimated to be about 5 years old. Mary decided to foster her, and went to meet her at her local Florida shelter.
And there she was. Much older than five. Maybe 500. She was scarred on her flanks. Her forehead looks like it was cleaved at one time.
She trailed a long cyst sack that swung when she walked. It was heavy. She is missing a front leg. She hobbles; has lumps, bumps and warts all over. She is gray-faced. ...
Granny Annie is no beauty. ... But inside that scarred interior lives a shining, golden heart and endless sweetness of character. I was planning to foster her so that she would not be euthanized. Who would want her?I love this story, and couldn't agree more with its message. This holiday season, don't forget the older pets who may find it a little harder to rest their tired limbs in a cage in a shelter.
It turned out that I did. To a house full of dogs and cats, she fit right in. If your heart is set on a dog, please adopt one, and don't forget the older ones who aren't pretty anymore; or the black ones who are seldom adopted because of their color. If they have special needs, they have lessons to teach you; like courage, inner strength, patience, gratitude and above all, love. (Read the full post on Pacelle's blog.)
These pets may have given years of love to an owner and then found themselves alone through no fault of their own. They don't ask for much -- just a soft bed and some company -- but they'll pay you back with immeasurable love.
Previous entries:
One weird cat inspires a lifelong interest in senior pets
Member Spotlight: Rescues that focus on senior dogs
November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month
Member Spotlight: A safe haven for senior and special-needs cats
Happy Tail: A senior Dalmatian loses weight, gains new life
A cat with many missing parts, but who's all heart
We have rescued dogs and cats for almost 20 years. We love, esp. our old rescued dogs. Almost two years ago, one lady from the local shelter ask us if we would take a old dog in that was tied on the door of the animal triftstore at night. This was in April and it was very cold. Of course we took her and named her "April".
She is med. size, black with a totally white face, was hit by a car a long time ago, we assume, and her right hip is smashed. But
April is the sweetest and most thankful dog on earth. First she
was not so clean, could not hold the water, but now, she has no
more problems. She decided, that she wants to sleep in our bedroom upstairs, so in the evening our 15 year old rescued Sandy, a lab mix, and 17 year old April walk up the stairs and then sleep all night on their comforters on the floor.
One month ago we took a old cockerspaniel in. She had
cherry eyes and has on one side no teeth. She can not hear also
We had the eyes operated on and we can tell she feels better. She finds her way to the outside easy and she is totally housebroken.
Right now we have 10 rescued dogs, 7 of them are not so young anymore or very old like April. We love our rescues and esp. our rescued old dogs.
Please, adopt an old dog, they are so wonderful companions and they know and thank you every day.
I HAD A CUTE DOG WHO SOME PEOPLE ABANDONED AT MY HOUSE I WONT GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT THAT CUZ IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG, BUT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO FIND HER ORIGINAL OWNER NO ONE CLAIMED HER,MEANWHILE I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER SHE WAS A SENIOR,I NAMED HER NELLY I GOT HER SHOTS SWEATERS JACKETS TOYS BIG ROUND BED,I LOVED HER WITH ALL MY HEART AND SHE LOVED ME WE WERE HAPPY TOGETHER.WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND FUN TOGETHER AS WELL. SHE WAS THE BEST FRIEND I EVER HAD AND THE CUTEST.ON NOV 25,2008 NELLY PASSED AWAY,NOW SHE WILL LIVE IN MY HEART FOREVER.SENIORS ARE THE BEST PETS YOU CAN EVER HAVE AND THE SMARTEST,THEY ARE HOUSE TRAINED AND WILL SHOW YOU MORE LOVE THAN YOU COULD EVER SEE IN A LIFETIME.I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE THAT TIME WITH NELLY. SINCERLY DARLENE BOBCZYK