If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard, "No, no... it has to be a younger one," from people who already have younger dogs in the home, we would never need to worry about fundraising again!

If only there were more folks out there, who would find…or make... room for just one more — this time an older one. What a difference it would make in these dogs' lives!

I know that we are not the only rescue out there with this problem. No one will take the old dogs, the throw-aways, the ones who are no longer cute — so rescue gets them, and in rescue they remain. It is not that we mind, believe me. The problem is this:

We can only handle just so many dogs in rescue at a time, and if all of our "places" are taken up by dogs that are never moving out into new homes, then pray tell... how can bring in and process the new dogs, the ones whom we can find homes for... if we just had room for them?

Having too many older, un-adoptable dogs in rescue taking up all of our foster homes can actually cause us to cease rescue operations completely, or, resort to over-crowding, which is not only unhealthy, but can become downright dangerous.

I see it "on-line" all the time….. A plea from everyone out there for "some rescue" to go get an old, unwanted dog found wandering/in a facility, etc. Where do they think we are going to put them? I don’t see those same people offering to help by taking in one of the old-timers. How can a responsible rescue turn away the younger dogs... those with the promise of a life ahead of them... in order to "save" the older, no longer wanted ones? Granted, they need rescue too. Bear with me here... play along for a moment. Put yourselves in our shoes for a minute and... be honest now... tell us what you would do if you were in our shoes?

You have the legal limit of 10 dogs in your home already, and every foster home is totally full with all the dogs they can safely handle. You have one dog going into a new home tomorrow, which will open up one space. Who will you take from "death row"... the 11 yr. old dog whose owner just died and there is no family? Or the 3 yr. old HW+ dog that, with treatment, has the potential for a long, happy life ahead once adopted? No one said that this was going to be easy.

We get an awfully lot of those down here, where there are many, many older people. They die, or get sick, or go into nursing homes, or assisted living facilities. Where do their dogs go? To their kids? Yeah, right, that’s what they all think.

The reality is this... every time those "kids" look at the dog all they can think about is what they woulda, coulda, shoulda done. When the guilt becomes unbearable they either throw the dog out in the backyard where it gets eaten alive by fleas and mosquitoes, developing skin infections, sores, intestinal parasites, and unfortunately... heartworms. What a life, huh? If the dog is really lucky, the "caregivers", and I use the term loosely... call rescue to "find the dog a new home."

That brings us to the real problem... how many people do you all think are applying to rescue for a 9+ yr. old dog that has seen more neglect in the last 6 mos. than it saw during its whole life? Not very many, I assure you.

We still take in as many as we possibly can, but it gets tougher all the time to find them homes. Our Board of Directors has voted to "waive" the adoption fee in the case of these senior dogs, no matter how much we spend on the dog getting him well enough to go into a home, and sometimes that is considerable. We still make sure that the dog has had all of the care needed beforehand, is brought up-to-date on all vaccines, and is even microchipped. In addition, because these dogs are usually going into the home of an older individual, with most likely a fixed income, we usually send along a new collar & leash, enough food, toys, and bedding to get a good start, a bowl if needed, and even a loaner crate. We also usually include a good supply of Heartworm & flea preventative.

But the bottom line is... WE NEED MORE HOMES FOR THESE OLD-TIMERS! So, please read the following, and see if you can’t find some room (they don’t ask for much) for an older dog in addition to the younger one you already have.

One By One...

One by one, they pass my cage,
A little old dog, arthritic with age.
Way past his prime, can't run and can’t play.
They shake their heads slowly and go on their way.

I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.
Now my muzzle is gray, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?

My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.
Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.

When I had come to the end of my rope,
You looked at my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw thru the gray, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.

You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.

I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them all with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.

And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And then I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.

- Author Unknown