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I've had large dogs live to be 17. (Chow mix), 16 (German shep/boxer mix), another that was 16 (chow border collie mix). So they can live longer.
I'd adopt another old dog in a heartbeat. They are so grateful.
We adopted an 11-year-old lab a few years ago who lived to 15. Owners gave him up because they were moving and were going to give him to a rescue. We couldn't bear that thought, especially a dog who had lived with a single family all of his life. We used to run into this dog on walks with ours, and we already knew how incredibly sweet and full of life he was. So he came to live with our family and we had four wonderful years with him. I agree with the other responders, the gratification that comes from knowing and loving an old dog is immeasurable. But I also agree, your husband has to be comfortable with it. Yes, maybe reading these posts would help.
I have a friend in Cody WY who commonly fosters older dogs that people no longer want. I believe she currently has about four, and is about to get two more on Sunday. Her signature on her email sums it up....
"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog."
I think older dogs are amazing but I do think when you are dealing with kids, sometimes it's hard to think about adopting an older dog that won't be around that long. So I can see the hesitancy with some parents. Not that it's a bad thing for kids to learn and see, but for some kids it could be hard.
I think older dogs are amazing but I do think when you are dealing with kids, sometimes it's hard to think about adopting an older dog that won't be around that long. So I can see the hesitancy with some parents. Not that it's a bad thing for kids to learn and see, but for some kids it could be hard.
The next door neighbor's toddler was our old dog's best friend. When we knew her days were numbered I dreaded telling him that she was gone so I told his parents so they could address the situation first. They explained that Britty was getting old and would go to heaven soon like Grandpa did. His take away was that his Grandpa and Britty would play ball in heaven, I'm pretty good with that version of eternity through a three year olds eyes.
While I am a big fan of older dogs, I am also a huge believer that every person in a family has to want the dog with full commitment.
Your husband doesn't want the senior citizen, OP, and his reason is a good one for himself. Some people deal with the grief of a lost pet better than others and your husband knows he can't go through it again so soon.
Leave this nice dog in his foster home. He is obviously getting love and attention and doesn't need to be rescued from a bad situation. Keep looking for an adult dog with fewer years, one that everyone in the family agrees on.
I have a friend who has been a puppy raiser for guide dogs for the blind for years.They have always had a family dog too so her two daughters grew up knowing the guidedog pups would only be with them for12- 16 months.Each time the current pup went back to guide dogs it was a sad day for them but they survived it and found happiness knowing they were possibly helping someone . ( many of the pups do not pass school so end up with career changes or becoming pets) What a great thing to teach your kids .
Through the many years they actually ended up with one of the pups that got dropped by the school.One daughter has become a vet and the other actually works for guide dogs.A few years ago the school contacted them as they had gotten a 12-13 yr old former guide dog back and my friend had been the puppy raiser. They asked if she would be interested in taking in the old gal.She still had the family dog, had a new guide dog puppy but her and her husband decided yes they could give the old girl a home.They had her for a couple years and made sure her golden years were good ones. I think their taking her in touched me more then anything as older dogs are so special.
Years ago when I still had Jazz and Dash I volunteered a week at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. One of my favorite places was the old dog home and I fell in love with an old cattle dog.He would come place his head in my lap and look directly in to my eyes .Jazz was part cattle dog and I knew what having a person means to them so I felt like he was saying please take me home as I need a person and I would like you to be my person.
I would have taken him in a heart beat, except I had Jazz and I was her person and she would not get along with this old guy thinking I was his person.Dash was not needy like that so he let her be top dog so they never had issues.I knew this old guy would end up in trouble with her so sadly I could not adopt him, but I left praying someone else would see what I saw in that old face.
I think it was about a year later that someone on here posted about the new senior dog they had adopted from best friends, they gave his name and I had to know more...turns out it was the sweet old cattle dog .It made my day to know he had found d a great home and was loved the rest of his days.
Update: My husband is..kinda..coming around through no cajoling by me. I mentioned some of the words in the posts here and I think they reassured him at least a little bit. He asked me to send him a picture of the ol' fella.
I agree, Oregon, I should respect his wishes, and trust me, I do. I don't pull the wife card much and definitely don't persuade him do something that he doesn't want to do. If he's still against the adoption, then I'll accept that. We did agree to a meeting.
This may not work out for reasons other than age but I didn't want for us to miss out on a great dog because he was "up there".
I've been told that is quite spry however for 10 and is more active than his 7 year old foster brother. A true lab
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