Adopting A Senior Dog
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Opening our doors and welcoming Daisy in meant that we had to accept being her retirement home. At 13 years old, Daisy was an owner surrender due to homelessness, and, though saddened by her difficult circumstance, we are immensely grateful that it gave us a chance to love her.
It’s interesting to me to think of the full life Daisy must have had before us, and I see little hints of her past habits in her behavior now. When we come indoors after a walk, she turns to me with wide, expectant eyes and dances around the kitchen. Do you think her past family had treats for her when she came inside? She makes her bed every night. She chases cats (in a way that only an old, plump dog can), and I wonder if she’s always been a cat-chaser. I like to picture her in her prime. Young, mini Aussie Daisy.
Adopting a senior dog is different from adopting a puppy. You take them in, knowing that you’ll never experience their puppy years; I know that I only have Daisy for a season. I‘ve wondered if maybe that limited time is what makes our bond so special and unique!
Daisy follows me absolutely EVERYWHERE- she never lets me move to another room in the house without the sound of her panting and toenail clicks following right behind.
There will come a time when Daisy won’t be able to be with us any longer. That time is coming soon. But in the meantime, I love each special day with my sweet doggo. I live as if she’ll never go.
I sadly pointed out to my husband the other day how slow Daisy was moving. He responded: “But she’s as happy as ever!”
Thanks to her, so am I.
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What an honor to adopt and love a senior dog!