From an emotional standpoint, one of the more difficult rehome/rescue situations involves senior owners and their senior pets. You have folks who have loved their sheltie for ten+ years ~ then personal health issues take hold and they can no longer keep their pet. Perhaps they move to an assisted living/nursing home facility; perhaps they move in with family .... and then there's the ultimate finality .... perhaps the owner has passed away.
What happens to the senior sheltie? Does s/he end up at a shelter ?? Who wants to adopt an "old dog" ??? The "old dog" that has loved his/her owner for years ... The "old dog" whose life has been turned upside down and doesn't understand why ..... The "old dog" that is now in mourning ~ those eyes asking you "what happened?" "did I do something wrong?"
Have you heard of "rescue angels" ? Folks who come forward to adopt seniors or those with special needs [amputees, terminal illness and so on] ?? They know that senior/special needs pets have so much love to give and deserve to receive love in return.
That was the case with Lady .....
She belonged to an elderly couple who had to move into assisted living and could not take her along. It happened during a time when it was "raining shelties" and NJ Sheltie Rescue did not have foster homes available. We didn't want to see Lady go to a shelter !! So Aneita posted a plea for help on the yahoo sheltie rescue network .... groups located all over the country devoted to helping shelties in need. Maine's rescue coordinator, Holly, responded with an offer to take Lady. Joanne in Connecticut was going to help transport Lady to Maine. But first, she told her friends Cathy and Herb about Lady's plight. Evidently Cathy always adopts seniors. After hearing Lady's story & seeing that face ~ Cathy fell in love !!. Aneita facilitated getting Cathy in touch with Lady's owners ..... Joanne helped with the relocation logistics .... and the rest is history ....
Joanne has sent these pictures of Lady in her new home [Granby, Connecticut]. We want to thank everyone involved with helping this sweet senior sheltie find a new, loving, forever home.
What a perfectly wonderful "and they lived happily ever after" story
Now, does that look like a happy, comfortable, relaxed sheltie or what ???
A beautiful sheltie at any age ~ but can you believe she's a Senior ???
Web Art Courtesy of Clan Duncan Shelties www.kennelcity.com
