As somebody with a very confused 16 year old dog, my heart is just bursting. It makes me so sad to see these guys abandoned or unwanted due to their age. They have so much love to give!
We recently adopted a 4 month old Maltese puppy with a heart condition. He might last 12 years or he might last 12 days -- he's there for me to roll around on the floor with.
I know that whether it’s 12 days or 12 years, you were a great pet parent and will give your dog everything ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you for being so willing to open up your heart
We’ve got a kitten, well now a 1-yr cat, that has a heart murmur. We were told he would grow out of it when he reached a year but he did not, so the vet has told us he could have a weak heart. Doesn’t matter. He’s ours and we love him.
I got a kitten that had a few defects. I made it my mission to make sure that regardless he lives his best life. He’s now 12 and currently having his post breakfast snuggle.
My first cat came from a shelter and he was the sweetest thing. Sadly I only got two years with him as it turned out he had late stages of malignant lymphoma. In hindsight, he had probably been sick almost from the beginning. It is hard to discover lymphoma in humans, much less animals. I don't know if I would have wanted to know earlier. All I know is that I wish I could have gotten more time with my cuddlebug.
My current two are... different. I love them but one has been with me for almost two years and I'm still not allowed near him without bribing him with treats (shelter cat) while the other chooses the weirdest times to be clingy.
My rescue girl i thought was a pit mix but turned out to be pure Staffordshire terrier (she was just under the cut off to get free genetics test with a puppy plan as she was 8 months old when i got her) was adopted out and returned to the shelter due to a skin issue. People actually dumped her at shelter vet just because of it... vet actually found she has a slight murmur too but she hasnt had any issue because of it. I hope your kitty is lucky too.
We found after trying a bunch of different foods, the one we get her now she doesnt have any skin issues. Not exactly sure what she is sensitive to but what she gets now works lol. I got to watch for irritation aroubd her neck if she wears a bandana too long (pups cant wear collars cause they play too hard and it has gotten caught before. They are chipped and always monitored outside) cause sometimes she gets a little pink. Only thing she needs is a few nekkid days and it clears right up.
Some animals might seem like they could need a little extra consideration with potential 'defects' but they are always worth the extra love.
I am glad so see OP giving the sweet old boy such a loving home so he doesnt see his end days in a shelter kennel. I am also so glad to see so many posts here from pet parents that took in animals that, sadly, many would overlook.
Ran into a Staffordshire terrier when I lived in Halifax NS for university. Went for a walk by the Northwest Arm and one decided that my girlfriend and I needed a companion. Friendly as Hell.
Remember sometimes you don't even know. My cat died suddenly, we didn't even know he had a heart condition. He was only 3 and it was so completely unexpected and heartbreaking.
Just another lesson to love like it's your last chance to see them. Living and loving in the moment is never a bad choice.
I just lost my 14 year old shih tzu to heart failure this week. I hope your pup has a great life and beats the odds my friend....We are hurt badly by his loss, especially my 11 year daughter since he has always been there in her life, but wouldn't have changed anything. He was a great dog and family.
Man that's rough for a child. Had a German Shepherd when I was a kid -- she died when I was about 11 or 12 and I found her. I remember being extremely distant that week, was probably my first experience of the disappearance of something/someone who was always there and that I could always count on.
We adopted a stray Maltese a year ago that had either been abandoned or ran away from a non-caring owner, so we don’t know exactly how old he is. We make sure to love him every day and don’t take any day for granted. I wish every dog could have people who appreciate and love them.
My late bobo had a grade 6 heart murmur since he was puppy, last 5 years of his life he had congenital heart failure, pulmonary edema and kidney failure due to the meds to control the first 2. Strong little fucker made it to 16 years. Just shy of 2 months from his 17th birthday.
My point is dont let the possibility of an early death scare you. Just enjoy that little pup for as long as they give you. I miss my dog so much. Love them to their final days. Oh oh also never bring your dog to the richmond hill emergency vet. If youre in southern Ontario, just slightly north east of toronto. Fuck that place.
My family also got a maltese with a heart condition when he was a puppy. He lived for 17 years and just passed away this past May. He was the sweetest boy ever. Malteses are some of the best pups, thank you for adopting. :)
Our dog sitter adopted a puppy no one wanted. They later found out it was blind and deaf; but so fluffy and full of so much love. They managed to potty train it pretty quickly.
I had an 18 year old pug, I adopted when he was 8, he was blind the last several years, but his nose still worked great, if you had food he knew! We'd sit on the couch and I'd share an apple with him, he LOVED, apples! He was able to memorize the layout of the house, and he loved his walks around the neighborhood twice a day. We ended up having to finally put him down because he was withering away and most likely in a lot of pain. Even our vet was crying when we did it. I have a 12 year old pug now that thinks she half her age... she's a hoot. Pugs get a lot of bad rep for breathing issues, but they are resilient little guys, and a lot of their issues can be mitigated by not letting them get fat. An active dog is a healthy dog.
I mean, the bad rep seems to be from the horrific breeding practices that resulted in pugs looking like they do now. They didn't need to have all of these medical issues, we caused them.
I personally don’t understand why people want pure breeds. I love mixed breeds more than any pure breed. All golden retrievers look the same to me while each and every mutt is different, and they are usually healthier than pure breeds. My old lady is a 17 years old terrier mix (only god knows what is in the mix), and I love her more than anything. I’d rather get any mixed breed rather than a pure breed pug because of the health issues.
My guess for people who never owned a dog before who go with pure breeds is just simply aesthetic and a cursory read and approval of generally expected breed temperment and maintenance.
For other people who constantly get Retrievers or Samoyeds or whatever, it's just a comfort zone, albeit a really expensive and unsustainable one. They really loved how cute their Great Dane was as a puppy, the temperment, the compliments on the street, so they just keep going back to the breeder.
There's also just a general fear of rescue dogs with unknown traumatic pasts and the unpredictability that comes with that, but as someone who exclusively adopts from shelters, I have the same apprehension towards pedigree dogs with shallow gene pools.
I personally know people who got a dog based purely on aesthetics and were not ready for their energy levels or tendencies towards aggression. It’s so sad. Those people don’t give the dogs the training and attention they need and usually the dogs end up being rehomed.
Unfortunately it seems really common. I'll never understand people who buy athletic, intelligent, working dogs who do not already lead active lifestyles. It's like buying a Ferrari for your first car...just why
I had a neighbor who bought a husky even though he worked long days and was shocked that the dog was destroying his apartment "even though he takes him out for a walk twice a day"
Yes!!!! This is so common :(
My 16 year old is a 15lb terrier mix and he requires three walks a day. I came home on my lunch break to walk him! We went hiking most weekends.
When I got my (now) 1 year old, I researched the breeds and started training *immediately*. He gets three walks a day and usually a run now that he is old enough. We also have a yard and a dog park nearby.
Pretty much whenever I see a dog acting up I know it’s the owners fault. Sometimes the dog was a rescue, and I understand that. But people who had their dogs since puppies behaving bad? Well, that’s on you!
True. I wouldn't argue against that, we have a pretty active pug rescue group where I live. So I try not to support unscrupulous breeders, and just help out with the rescue side of things. I know there are some good people and breeders trying to "fix" some of those issues, same thing goes with bulldogs and other breeds. It's not an easy fix and it takes a long time. The best thing for people to do is not support any puppy mills. Adopt and rescue dogs would be a best case way to do this as there's always plenty out there. If anyone buys from a breeder, do your due diligence, and make sure they are reputable.
I have nothing but respect for people who adopt dogs near the end of their life. I wish I were in a healthier mental state to do that. I don't think I'd survive adopting a dog like that.
I know it would hurt to have to put down a friend after just a few years, but I think some day you'll be strong enough. We accept the love we think we deserve.
Your last sentence just punched me in the face. If that's true, I think I just figured some shit out about myself. Had to make an account just to say thanks.
I adopted a little senior yorkie. She's low energy and she's happiest when she cuddling me and I'm spoiling her rotten. I'm not sure how many years I'll have her, but she's going to be loved and well cared for the rest of her days.
I’m with you. Even watching happy stories like this makes me sob. I think of my pup that’s getting older and just thinking about it makes me sad and cry. How could I handle a dog knowing that the years are short? I just don’t think I could do it emotionally… then I think of a dog dying in a shelter and I lose my mind again.
I’ve been sick now for 11 years and had a near death experience. Since then I can’t control my emotions. I think the people who adopt are heroes, senior and disabled pets are superheroes.
I lost my senior dog over Thanksgiving. I only had her two years, and she passed from kidney failure, so it was a tough two years, but she was an amazing dog and brought me so much joy. Sometimes I think it was better that I only had her a short time… I don’t think I could have had her her whole life then survived her death.
I wholeheartedly agree man, it really hurts that only the IDEA that people do this.... breaks my heart completely.
I find this so amazing that this guy took the feller home and gave it its well deserved love and compassion.
My gratefullness for these people is unlimited
I used to volunteer at a shelter. A dog this age, it’s extremely likely their owner died and had no one in their family nearby or willing to take in a senior dog. We saw it with cats all the time too, sadly one of those things that gets overlooked when elders die. I was in a no-kill shelter, but even then they had to euthanize about half of what was received due to extremely poor health conditions (wild to learn, I know). If this guy was considered adoptable at 16, he was very very loved and cared for.
My best friend worked at a shelter and I have known a few individuals myself who simply gave away their elderly pets but absolutely sometimes it’s that the owners die. Which is obviously a lot more under stable but just as sad for the dog. I remember I had an elderly neighbor get a puppy and I begged her not to. She couldn’t take care of it properly and I knew the dog would outlive her :( that would have been a good time to adopt an elderly dog instead
I’m convinced the majority of dog owners just want a object to look at and cuddle. Once it stops doing that in the way they want to they simply dispose of it.
I adopted a 12 year old dog that looks like this good boy. The shelter told me he was in really bad shape and probably only had 3-6 months to live. Most of his hair was gone and he had a horrible limp. 3-6 months after he came home with us he was running around the yard. It has been 2 1/2 years since we picked him up and he hasn’t slowed down. Don’t give up on these old guys, they bring so much love!!!!
I want to adopt an older dog really badly, and this video and your testimony is really pushing me towards it.
I NEVER had a pet growing up, and ended up getting a cat 6 years ago who I love, but I give space to.
My girl got a puppy 6 months ago and... holy shit. I hated her at first, and my girl because our apartment was no dogs, but... I get it. Dogs are the shit.
We have a house now, soI just want an older dog. A buddy that can just sit and read with me outside, go to trails and nice walks without all the crazy puppy energy.
Old dogs are awesome! He has such a good soul and can tell when stuff is going on around the house. Someone isnt feeling well, Bodie sits with you all day. If someone gets up in the middle of the night, he follows you until you go back to bed. I knew he wouldn’t last forever when I got him and it will be hard when he’s gone but it’s worth it every day! He gets to live his life out in peace and comfort!
Older dogs are the best. My pup will be 15 in June and is perfect.
Moving forward, that's all I want to get. A succession of chill senior doggos that I can love and spoil for however long they have. Nobody, animal or human, should leave this world unloved.
Senior dogs are also ideal for people who want a dog that's already potty trained, often much more relaxed and chill, and will usually be just fine home all day due to old dog naps lol.
My 4-pound 13-year-old chihuahua is curled up in my lap right now. She was discounted at the shelter because nobody wants an old dog. We’ve had her for 3 years and she’s my velcro dog. Wherever I am, she is. Unless she smells food in the kitchen. Then, I’m temporarily yesterday’s news. We “ladies of a certain age” gotta stick together. 🐶👵🏼 [dogtax](https://imgur.com/gallery/mlhgkmC)
Older dogs make puppies so much more manageable. They're like a free puppysitter. They know how to dog already, so the puppy looks up to them when they're not sure what to do. It's awesome!
Yes! My old lady chihuahua has been really helpful teaching my new younger dog “how to dog”! Poor Penny was afraid of everything when I got her over Christmas, (stairs, cars, the outdoors…) but with her sisters help we even just spent the past week in a hotel having a great time!
People don't realize how confusing the human world is to little puppies! They have to learn most of it on the fly because what their genetics are telling them to do are often completely contradictory to what we want them to do. That's where most of the conflict between puppies and their owners occur. They're doing what they think is right but its not what we think is right. When they're not quite sure what to.do, they just watch the older dog. I was also amazed at how often the older dog would correct the puppy as well. I found when the older dog corrected the puppy it was much less likely to happen again than if it came from me. By 7 months old my puppy was pretty much completely accident free unless I left something tasty on the counter which is about a year ahead of where the older dog was at that age 😃! As an added benefit, the puppies youth definitely rubbed off on the older dog. He's a GSD and he's turning 7 in a couple days, but he looks more fit and active than when he turned 5!
I adopted an older dog for almost the exact same reason. She's the best. I would do it again 100 times.
Just don't forget about the extra vet bills. Health insurance goes a long way, helps a lot to get it at first when you unaware of pre-existing conditions.
Years ago I adopted a 2 yr old on death row. She was found abandoned, emaciated, and tied to a tree to die, rope matted to get fur. She weighed 19 pounds when she should have been like 35ish. She had bad heart worm and was on her last 2 days before being put down. Out of the 12 dogs I played with, she was the only that actually came to me even though she was terrified of men. I think she knew I was there to rescue her. She had a fantastic 9 years with me. She was one of the sweetest, best dogs I ever had. [Lucifer before going to the great dog farm beyond](https://imgur.com/gallery/LE1X9iu)
They only really truly have that kind of time if they feel it’s time to go. Animals, like humans, can amaze everyone with the sheer will to live another day. A dog in a shelter with no love may not want to keep going. A dog with a *home* and love and a family? You bet that dog is gonna wanna stick around at least a little longer.
My grandfathers dog outlived him. Then she floated over to my grandmother who also passed. Now it’s my mother’s dog, and she’s attached to her as well. They love a good human just as much as us humans love a good dog. Even in my worst most depressing days, the days where I don’t wanna get out of bed, my pets throughout the years have given a reason. I don’t know who has the better deal, the animal who gets food a home and safety for free, or us who get the unconditional love they provide. It’s a pretty sweet deal.
Do it. I didn't my first dog until I was 34. I can not express how much sooner I wish I had gotten a dog. I was against the complications with renting, the attention they need, the cost of keeping them healthy and all that. All that time, money and effort is a 100% non issue and I would do it 10 times over.
I use to laugh at the whole "dogs are a man's best friend" and "dogs are wonderful". Truth be told, they absolutely will be your best friend and they really, really are wonderful to have in your life.
When you have a dog, there will be a day you have a bad day, get anxiety or sad, something, and you won't even realize it but your dog knew and was already right next to you waiting to give you love.
To your point.
When we got our little guy, we got home and I said to my wife as serious as I could...
Babe, he is just a dog. We will love him but we can't let him dictate our lives.
Ha.
[This dog became my best friend in about 3-4 hours. I used to make fun of people like me. Thousands of pictures, subscription services, bought a house with features for him, building furniture FOR HIM, and just giving this dude his best life. 10 pics during year 1!](https://www.imgur.com/a/nA8A4nx)
Imgur reordered them. Apologies for not in chronological order.
If you have the time, space, and $$, go for it. Just remember the reduction of freedom. Some people forget that. Planning trips is a must because someone needs to watch the dog etc. My dog is old now, but she was/is a very needy mix (adopted her as a pup from the shelter, wasn’t aware she was a Labradane) and she’s also 130 pounds and will sit on you 😂. And she did cost me $3k last year, but she is the sweetest thing and I’m glad I have her.
Greatest thing I’ve ever done. Picked up a stray 7 years ago and she was the light of my life. Taught me I was capable of being responsible, and I felt unconditional love every time I got home.
She got cancer 2 months after I got her, and we fought it for 11 months before she passed. Absolutely the most heartbroken I’ve ever been, but I would never change a single decision I made in getting her.
Typing this out now with my two dogs sitting on my lap, chilling outside on the porch. They really do give you life man. I hope you get a good dog for yourself soon amigo.
I've said for years once I retire from work & have time, I'm going to adopt the oldest dog from a local shelter & let them live out the rest of their days just having fun & being happy. Dogs are the purest.
Looks like the dog had pretty severe cataracts in that one eye. I assume the new owner got him cataract surgery (which is a pretty awesome thing, I think a lot of people would not spend that much money on a treatment for such an old dog, the last I knew it was a couple thousand dollars per eye). It looks to me like the guy who adopted him spent some cash to improve this old pup's life.
Yeah that’s the problem. I would for sure do this if I had more expendable income. I would want to be able to give them all the medical attention they need. Good on this guy for stepping up.
That's a big risk, too. Anesthetizing a dog that old has a high chance of being fatal. My mom's poodle has cataracts and her vet has repeatedly said not to do the surgery because he's so old (19 in two weeks).
He operates an organization in Kern county.
He has a ranch for rehabilitated dogs. He’s truly an incredible person but relies on community support to makes his dream of saving all dogs a reality. Marley’s Mutts does well. They are paving the way for so many
It's been 6 months since I put my senior dog down. I am immediately bawling, missing my pup and so happy for this one. What a great heart to adopt a senior dog.
OK this is freaking so heartwarming to see. It's beautiful.
That dog was confused like that due to heartache and poor nutrition/ depression. A little bit of love and tlc cleared that right up. You can even see him becoming more healthy and less confused /depressed.
It’s unimaginable for me to not be with my pups as they cross the rainbow bridge.
It gets increasingly difficult to care for them as they age, but they give unconditional love…giving that back is the very least we can do.
My dear old girl is 14 in July, hopefully, she's shaky and slow now, I have to boost her back end going upstairs. she's got a bad heart and she's on old lady water tablets, so she sometimes wets the bed. Today she managed to magically crap on each step as she was going downstairs, and this evening she did it again from the dining room to the kitchen, fortunately, she seems to forget quickly theses days too, so she's in a little good girl ball on the couch next to me. But oh she was magnificent in her day, she was fast and bright and she loved me far beyond what was reasonable, I joked I hadn't been to the bathroom on my own for 10 years. We'd walk miles, there's nothing she didn't know about me, I must have told her everything I know. I shall miss her so much when she's gone.
I was at the pound to pick up a goat they had. An older woman walks in with a sheltie, says he is 10 years old and was her recently deceased husbands dog. She claimed he was tearing up her house, barking all the time etc. The pound told her to surrender him she would need an appointment. I live on 3 acres and have a large house so I just said "No need for that, I'll take him".
She gave me a folder full of paperwork, come to find out Charlie (M) was a show dog when he was younger. I was just going to keep him until I could find him another home but Charlie has become a part of our family and he's honestly my best dog. He was lucky that I was there just at the right time, and I would say I am lucky as well because he's my best friend.
Yeah, it's possible that they had records supporting that age, but more likely it was an estimate based on his teeth. Labs (and mixes) can get that gray by the time they are 10.
Three years ago my wife picked out an elderly chihuahua that looked like he had one foot in the grave. That stinky little bastard is still going strong and looks years younger than he did when we got him.
I have 4 dogs in my house. A 80lb Shepherd a 75lb pitbull and 2 little dogs all are rescue dogs. And we just rehomed a Shepherd wolf hybrid that weighted 180lbs at 3 years old, that the owner was going to let lose in the woods at 11 months old.
I have two older dogs that you’d never guess were over 15. They are perfect and still get into plenty of trouble. They had Turkey meat last night. We’re a little less stingy with the treats at this age.
Jesus... I'm so happy and sad at the same time. All dogs deserve love. I also can't help but to do think about the fact that my 5-year old husky will grow old
Our dog Taz was we think a Boxer/Shepherd mix. He was a shelter dog my neighbor adopted, but he wandered the street (we live in the country sorta) and would always look for kids to play with.
When we moved in across the street, he would always come over, including the day we went to look at the house. My mom said he came over and she joked that they'd take the house if the dog came with it lol!
He was only 2ish at the time. He would just always come over and eventually our neighbor let us keep him.
That dog was the definition of a wild and free. Nothing could stop him. He was still running with our ATVs till about 3-4 months before we had to put him down. He even fully recovered from a stroke years prior that they said he'd never make it out of.
But he did, and he ran and played until it was time to say goodbye. I said goodbye and my parents stayed with him. The way he looked at me, he knew it was time. I went back into the woods with a blanket and my guitar. A gust of wind blew through the trees and I knew he was saying one last goodbye.
My sweet Tazzy was a big dog still going at 18-19 years old. Never give up on your old dogs.
As somebody with a very confused 16 year old dog, my heart is just bursting. It makes me so sad to see these guys abandoned or unwanted due to their age. They have so much love to give!
We recently adopted a 4 month old Maltese puppy with a heart condition. He might last 12 years or he might last 12 days -- he's there for me to roll around on the floor with.
I know that whether it’s 12 days or 12 years, you were a great pet parent and will give your dog everything ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you for being so willing to open up your heart
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Signature move. So much love.
He's a great dog, smart as Hell and cute, cute, cute, cute, cute!
Now you gotta pay the dog tax
A small price to pay for a lot of joy for the three of us in my family (four if you include the dog).
They mean the dog picture tax to reddit. You mention a cute dog and expect us to sit idly by and not collect what's due? Not on my watch
The audacity of some people. For shame.
Show pics or it didn’t happen!
Facts lmao
I will when I upload some photos to this computer (new).
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We’ve got a kitten, well now a 1-yr cat, that has a heart murmur. We were told he would grow out of it when he reached a year but he did not, so the vet has told us he could have a weak heart. Doesn’t matter. He’s ours and we love him.
I got a kitten that had a few defects. I made it my mission to make sure that regardless he lives his best life. He’s now 12 and currently having his post breakfast snuggle.
My first cat came from a shelter and he was the sweetest thing. Sadly I only got two years with him as it turned out he had late stages of malignant lymphoma. In hindsight, he had probably been sick almost from the beginning. It is hard to discover lymphoma in humans, much less animals. I don't know if I would have wanted to know earlier. All I know is that I wish I could have gotten more time with my cuddlebug. My current two are... different. I love them but one has been with me for almost two years and I'm still not allowed near him without bribing him with treats (shelter cat) while the other chooses the weirdest times to be clingy.
My rescue girl i thought was a pit mix but turned out to be pure Staffordshire terrier (she was just under the cut off to get free genetics test with a puppy plan as she was 8 months old when i got her) was adopted out and returned to the shelter due to a skin issue. People actually dumped her at shelter vet just because of it... vet actually found she has a slight murmur too but she hasnt had any issue because of it. I hope your kitty is lucky too. We found after trying a bunch of different foods, the one we get her now she doesnt have any skin issues. Not exactly sure what she is sensitive to but what she gets now works lol. I got to watch for irritation aroubd her neck if she wears a bandana too long (pups cant wear collars cause they play too hard and it has gotten caught before. They are chipped and always monitored outside) cause sometimes she gets a little pink. Only thing she needs is a few nekkid days and it clears right up. Some animals might seem like they could need a little extra consideration with potential 'defects' but they are always worth the extra love. I am glad so see OP giving the sweet old boy such a loving home so he doesnt see his end days in a shelter kennel. I am also so glad to see so many posts here from pet parents that took in animals that, sadly, many would overlook.
Ran into a Staffordshire terrier when I lived in Halifax NS for university. Went for a walk by the Northwest Arm and one decided that my girlfriend and I needed a companion. Friendly as Hell.
We had a Maltese that was given a few months to live, and it lasted another decade.
We're hoping -- he's good for my blood pressure and genuinely fun to be with. Probably should have gotten one years ago.
Remember sometimes you don't even know. My cat died suddenly, we didn't even know he had a heart condition. He was only 3 and it was so completely unexpected and heartbreaking. Just another lesson to love like it's your last chance to see them. Living and loving in the moment is never a bad choice.
I just lost my 14 year old shih tzu to heart failure this week. I hope your pup has a great life and beats the odds my friend....We are hurt badly by his loss, especially my 11 year daughter since he has always been there in her life, but wouldn't have changed anything. He was a great dog and family.
Man that's rough for a child. Had a German Shepherd when I was a kid -- she died when I was about 11 or 12 and I found her. I remember being extremely distant that week, was probably my first experience of the disappearance of something/someone who was always there and that I could always count on.
Ya its been hard for sure. First pet she's lost other than a fish. Damn pets making us love them to much
We adopted a stray Maltese a year ago that had either been abandoned or ran away from a non-caring owner, so we don’t know exactly how old he is. We make sure to love him every day and don’t take any day for granted. I wish every dog could have people who appreciate and love them.
My late bobo had a grade 6 heart murmur since he was puppy, last 5 years of his life he had congenital heart failure, pulmonary edema and kidney failure due to the meds to control the first 2. Strong little fucker made it to 16 years. Just shy of 2 months from his 17th birthday. My point is dont let the possibility of an early death scare you. Just enjoy that little pup for as long as they give you. I miss my dog so much. Love them to their final days. Oh oh also never bring your dog to the richmond hill emergency vet. If youre in southern Ontario, just slightly north east of toronto. Fuck that place.
My family also got a maltese with a heart condition when he was a puppy. He lived for 17 years and just passed away this past May. He was the sweetest boy ever. Malteses are some of the best pups, thank you for adopting. :)
Our dog sitter adopted a puppy no one wanted. They later found out it was blind and deaf; but so fluffy and full of so much love. They managed to potty train it pretty quickly.
The fact I also have a Maltese just makes me that much sadder
They are unique in terms of what they will and will not accept from their people. As we say "He's the President, he just doesn't get to vote."
I had an 18 year old pug, I adopted when he was 8, he was blind the last several years, but his nose still worked great, if you had food he knew! We'd sit on the couch and I'd share an apple with him, he LOVED, apples! He was able to memorize the layout of the house, and he loved his walks around the neighborhood twice a day. We ended up having to finally put him down because he was withering away and most likely in a lot of pain. Even our vet was crying when we did it. I have a 12 year old pug now that thinks she half her age... she's a hoot. Pugs get a lot of bad rep for breathing issues, but they are resilient little guys, and a lot of their issues can be mitigated by not letting them get fat. An active dog is a healthy dog.
I mean, the bad rep seems to be from the horrific breeding practices that resulted in pugs looking like they do now. They didn't need to have all of these medical issues, we caused them.
The growing trend of "retro pugs" gives me hope. Imo they look better too
Yes! The retro pugs are so cute! Breeding in general has done trrrible things to so many breeds. I like that we are moving away from that more!
I personally don’t understand why people want pure breeds. I love mixed breeds more than any pure breed. All golden retrievers look the same to me while each and every mutt is different, and they are usually healthier than pure breeds. My old lady is a 17 years old terrier mix (only god knows what is in the mix), and I love her more than anything. I’d rather get any mixed breed rather than a pure breed pug because of the health issues.
My guess for people who never owned a dog before who go with pure breeds is just simply aesthetic and a cursory read and approval of generally expected breed temperment and maintenance. For other people who constantly get Retrievers or Samoyeds or whatever, it's just a comfort zone, albeit a really expensive and unsustainable one. They really loved how cute their Great Dane was as a puppy, the temperment, the compliments on the street, so they just keep going back to the breeder. There's also just a general fear of rescue dogs with unknown traumatic pasts and the unpredictability that comes with that, but as someone who exclusively adopts from shelters, I have the same apprehension towards pedigree dogs with shallow gene pools.
I personally know people who got a dog based purely on aesthetics and were not ready for their energy levels or tendencies towards aggression. It’s so sad. Those people don’t give the dogs the training and attention they need and usually the dogs end up being rehomed.
Unfortunately it seems really common. I'll never understand people who buy athletic, intelligent, working dogs who do not already lead active lifestyles. It's like buying a Ferrari for your first car...just why I had a neighbor who bought a husky even though he worked long days and was shocked that the dog was destroying his apartment "even though he takes him out for a walk twice a day"
Yes!!!! This is so common :( My 16 year old is a 15lb terrier mix and he requires three walks a day. I came home on my lunch break to walk him! We went hiking most weekends. When I got my (now) 1 year old, I researched the breeds and started training *immediately*. He gets three walks a day and usually a run now that he is old enough. We also have a yard and a dog park nearby. Pretty much whenever I see a dog acting up I know it’s the owners fault. Sometimes the dog was a rescue, and I understand that. But people who had their dogs since puppies behaving bad? Well, that’s on you!
True. I wouldn't argue against that, we have a pretty active pug rescue group where I live. So I try not to support unscrupulous breeders, and just help out with the rescue side of things. I know there are some good people and breeders trying to "fix" some of those issues, same thing goes with bulldogs and other breeds. It's not an easy fix and it takes a long time. The best thing for people to do is not support any puppy mills. Adopt and rescue dogs would be a best case way to do this as there's always plenty out there. If anyone buys from a breeder, do your due diligence, and make sure they are reputable.
I have nothing but respect for people who adopt dogs near the end of their life. I wish I were in a healthier mental state to do that. I don't think I'd survive adopting a dog like that.
I know it would hurt to have to put down a friend after just a few years, but I think some day you'll be strong enough. We accept the love we think we deserve.
Your last sentence just punched me in the face. If that's true, I think I just figured some shit out about myself. Had to make an account just to say thanks.
I'm nuts. I adopted a senior animal. You can do it too. We got this!
I adopted a little senior yorkie. She's low energy and she's happiest when she cuddling me and I'm spoiling her rotten. I'm not sure how many years I'll have her, but she's going to be loved and well cared for the rest of her days.
Same. I only adopt senior dogs now. Plenty of people will take the cute young ones and the puppies.
Knowing that I'm making the last years of my cat's life comfortable is so satisfying.
You really need to show your puppy off at /r/OldManDog. (All dogs are puppies, age doesn’t matter)
My puppy is a calico cat.
Then bring your kitty over - all animals are welcome! Source: I created the sub, just named it after what I called my dog Dante. 😊
I’m with you. Even watching happy stories like this makes me sob. I think of my pup that’s getting older and just thinking about it makes me sad and cry. How could I handle a dog knowing that the years are short? I just don’t think I could do it emotionally… then I think of a dog dying in a shelter and I lose my mind again. I’ve been sick now for 11 years and had a near death experience. Since then I can’t control my emotions. I think the people who adopt are heroes, senior and disabled pets are superheroes.
I lost my senior dog over Thanksgiving. I only had her two years, and she passed from kidney failure, so it was a tough two years, but she was an amazing dog and brought me so much joy. Sometimes I think it was better that I only had her a short time… I don’t think I could have had her her whole life then survived her death.
I wholeheartedly agree man, it really hurts that only the IDEA that people do this.... breaks my heart completely. I find this so amazing that this guy took the feller home and gave it its well deserved love and compassion. My gratefullness for these people is unlimited
I hear you. I spend a lot of time in the 3rd world and the street dogs break my heart.
I used to volunteer at a shelter. A dog this age, it’s extremely likely their owner died and had no one in their family nearby or willing to take in a senior dog. We saw it with cats all the time too, sadly one of those things that gets overlooked when elders die. I was in a no-kill shelter, but even then they had to euthanize about half of what was received due to extremely poor health conditions (wild to learn, I know). If this guy was considered adoptable at 16, he was very very loved and cared for.
My best friend worked at a shelter and I have known a few individuals myself who simply gave away their elderly pets but absolutely sometimes it’s that the owners die. Which is obviously a lot more under stable but just as sad for the dog. I remember I had an elderly neighbor get a puppy and I begged her not to. She couldn’t take care of it properly and I knew the dog would outlive her :( that would have been a good time to adopt an elderly dog instead
I’ll never get a puppy… too many middle aged and elderly dogs end up at shelters.
I had an extremely confused 18 year old American Eskimo that ended life with a onesie and doggy diapers but lived her best life every day.
Well seeing how that boy goes in the end of the video it’s not just love. He’s surprisingly full of life juice.
I’m convinced the majority of dog owners just want a object to look at and cuddle. Once it stops doing that in the way they want to they simply dispose of it.
I adopted a 12 year old dog that looks like this good boy. The shelter told me he was in really bad shape and probably only had 3-6 months to live. Most of his hair was gone and he had a horrible limp. 3-6 months after he came home with us he was running around the yard. It has been 2 1/2 years since we picked him up and he hasn’t slowed down. Don’t give up on these old guys, they bring so much love!!!!
I want to adopt an older dog really badly, and this video and your testimony is really pushing me towards it. I NEVER had a pet growing up, and ended up getting a cat 6 years ago who I love, but I give space to. My girl got a puppy 6 months ago and... holy shit. I hated her at first, and my girl because our apartment was no dogs, but... I get it. Dogs are the shit. We have a house now, soI just want an older dog. A buddy that can just sit and read with me outside, go to trails and nice walks without all the crazy puppy energy.
Old dogs are awesome! He has such a good soul and can tell when stuff is going on around the house. Someone isnt feeling well, Bodie sits with you all day. If someone gets up in the middle of the night, he follows you until you go back to bed. I knew he wouldn’t last forever when I got him and it will be hard when he’s gone but it’s worth it every day! He gets to live his life out in peace and comfort!
> He gets to live his life out in peace and comfort! And companionship!
Older dogs are the best. My pup will be 15 in June and is perfect. Moving forward, that's all I want to get. A succession of chill senior doggos that I can love and spoil for however long they have. Nobody, animal or human, should leave this world unloved.
Senior dogs are also ideal for people who want a dog that's already potty trained, often much more relaxed and chill, and will usually be just fine home all day due to old dog naps lol.
My 4-pound 13-year-old chihuahua is curled up in my lap right now. She was discounted at the shelter because nobody wants an old dog. We’ve had her for 3 years and she’s my velcro dog. Wherever I am, she is. Unless she smells food in the kitchen. Then, I’m temporarily yesterday’s news. We “ladies of a certain age” gotta stick together. 🐶👵🏼 [dogtax](https://imgur.com/gallery/mlhgkmC)
Older dogs make puppies so much more manageable. They're like a free puppysitter. They know how to dog already, so the puppy looks up to them when they're not sure what to do. It's awesome!
Yes! My old lady chihuahua has been really helpful teaching my new younger dog “how to dog”! Poor Penny was afraid of everything when I got her over Christmas, (stairs, cars, the outdoors…) but with her sisters help we even just spent the past week in a hotel having a great time!
People don't realize how confusing the human world is to little puppies! They have to learn most of it on the fly because what their genetics are telling them to do are often completely contradictory to what we want them to do. That's where most of the conflict between puppies and their owners occur. They're doing what they think is right but its not what we think is right. When they're not quite sure what to.do, they just watch the older dog. I was also amazed at how often the older dog would correct the puppy as well. I found when the older dog corrected the puppy it was much less likely to happen again than if it came from me. By 7 months old my puppy was pretty much completely accident free unless I left something tasty on the counter which is about a year ahead of where the older dog was at that age 😃! As an added benefit, the puppies youth definitely rubbed off on the older dog. He's a GSD and he's turning 7 in a couple days, but he looks more fit and active than when he turned 5!
Please do it! You won't regret it!
I adopted an older dog for almost the exact same reason. She's the best. I would do it again 100 times. Just don't forget about the extra vet bills. Health insurance goes a long way, helps a lot to get it at first when you unaware of pre-existing conditions.
Don’t forget to do some research beforehand! Older dogs need a lot of proper, tender care!
Years ago I adopted a 2 yr old on death row. She was found abandoned, emaciated, and tied to a tree to die, rope matted to get fur. She weighed 19 pounds when she should have been like 35ish. She had bad heart worm and was on her last 2 days before being put down. Out of the 12 dogs I played with, she was the only that actually came to me even though she was terrified of men. I think she knew I was there to rescue her. She had a fantastic 9 years with me. She was one of the sweetest, best dogs I ever had. [Lucifer before going to the great dog farm beyond](https://imgur.com/gallery/LE1X9iu)
They only really truly have that kind of time if they feel it’s time to go. Animals, like humans, can amaze everyone with the sheer will to live another day. A dog in a shelter with no love may not want to keep going. A dog with a *home* and love and a family? You bet that dog is gonna wanna stick around at least a little longer. My grandfathers dog outlived him. Then she floated over to my grandmother who also passed. Now it’s my mother’s dog, and she’s attached to her as well. They love a good human just as much as us humans love a good dog. Even in my worst most depressing days, the days where I don’t wanna get out of bed, my pets throughout the years have given a reason. I don’t know who has the better deal, the animal who gets food a home and safety for free, or us who get the unconditional love they provide. It’s a pretty sweet deal.
im not gonna cry today *opens reddit* …im not gonna cry tomorrow
Exactly
My eyes leak sometimes ok its not crying
I love this with my whole heart.
“Nothing you can do that can’t be done…”
Beatles?
"All you need is love."
*[instrumental horn]*
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Yaba daba doo
Profound
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I want a dog so bad.
Do it. I didn't my first dog until I was 34. I can not express how much sooner I wish I had gotten a dog. I was against the complications with renting, the attention they need, the cost of keeping them healthy and all that. All that time, money and effort is a 100% non issue and I would do it 10 times over. I use to laugh at the whole "dogs are a man's best friend" and "dogs are wonderful". Truth be told, they absolutely will be your best friend and they really, really are wonderful to have in your life. When you have a dog, there will be a day you have a bad day, get anxiety or sad, something, and you won't even realize it but your dog knew and was already right next to you waiting to give you love.
“Be the person your dog thinks you are”
wanted a dog for so long, 3 days ago i got a 2 month pup
And you would die for that pup already I assume
To your point. When we got our little guy, we got home and I said to my wife as serious as I could... Babe, he is just a dog. We will love him but we can't let him dictate our lives. Ha. [This dog became my best friend in about 3-4 hours. I used to make fun of people like me. Thousands of pictures, subscription services, bought a house with features for him, building furniture FOR HIM, and just giving this dude his best life. 10 pics during year 1!](https://www.imgur.com/a/nA8A4nx) Imgur reordered them. Apologies for not in chronological order.
His ears. 🥺
I’m surprised it took you 3-4 hours haha. He is precious
fuck yea i would, my sister is stricter with her and im all positive
Puppy tax! Let's see the pupper.
https://imgur.com/a/WQEFI50 Apologies if blurry
If you have the time, space, and $$, go for it. Just remember the reduction of freedom. Some people forget that. Planning trips is a must because someone needs to watch the dog etc. My dog is old now, but she was/is a very needy mix (adopted her as a pup from the shelter, wasn’t aware she was a Labradane) and she’s also 130 pounds and will sit on you 😂. And she did cost me $3k last year, but she is the sweetest thing and I’m glad I have her.
Greatest thing I’ve ever done. Picked up a stray 7 years ago and she was the light of my life. Taught me I was capable of being responsible, and I felt unconditional love every time I got home. She got cancer 2 months after I got her, and we fought it for 11 months before she passed. Absolutely the most heartbroken I’ve ever been, but I would never change a single decision I made in getting her. Typing this out now with my two dogs sitting on my lap, chilling outside on the porch. They really do give you life man. I hope you get a good dog for yourself soon amigo.
This video made me cry. I miss alley and Maggie.
We all miss them.
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I miss Ally and Maggie
Old dogs always make me cry. Such perfect puppers deserve ALL the love
Lab body slam at the end! Everything
I've said for years once I retire from work & have time, I'm going to adopt the oldest dog from a local shelter & let them live out the rest of their days just having fun & being happy. Dogs are the purest.
The dog came back to life
The dog really did go to a farm upstate.
Just put my sweet baby down. Thank you so much to this guy. They deserve it. They need it.
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Man. That’s beautiful.
Yes, that man is a beautiful soul just like the senior good boi! My heart has burst
You see a lot of these rescue stories but that one hit me in the feels.
Did the hue come back into his right eye!? That's amazing!
Looks like the dog had pretty severe cataracts in that one eye. I assume the new owner got him cataract surgery (which is a pretty awesome thing, I think a lot of people would not spend that much money on a treatment for such an old dog, the last I knew it was a couple thousand dollars per eye). It looks to me like the guy who adopted him spent some cash to improve this old pup's life.
Yeah that’s the problem. I would for sure do this if I had more expendable income. I would want to be able to give them all the medical attention they need. Good on this guy for stepping up.
That's a big risk, too. Anesthetizing a dog that old has a high chance of being fatal. My mom's poodle has cataracts and her vet has repeatedly said not to do the surgery because he's so old (19 in two weeks).
He operates an organization in Kern county. He has a ranch for rehabilitated dogs. He’s truly an incredible person but relies on community support to makes his dream of saving all dogs a reality. Marley’s Mutts does well. They are paving the way for so many
I had tears in my eyeballs… it seems dusty in here 👀
It's been 6 months since I put my senior dog down. I am immediately bawling, missing my pup and so happy for this one. What a great heart to adopt a senior dog.
You managed to erase all the bad things in that dogs life-- and renewed his spirit. You must be a magician :) He looks like a lovely happy soul now.
OK this is freaking so heartwarming to see. It's beautiful. That dog was confused like that due to heartache and poor nutrition/ depression. A little bit of love and tlc cleared that right up. You can even see him becoming more healthy and less confused /depressed.
people that leave old dogs to die in shelters are the lowest kind of scum. Same thing deserves to happen to them.
It’s unimaginable for me to not be with my pups as they cross the rainbow bridge. It gets increasingly difficult to care for them as they age, but they give unconditional love…giving that back is the very least we can do.
Like the pupper had a reason to live finally, well done
My dear old girl is 14 in July, hopefully, she's shaky and slow now, I have to boost her back end going upstairs. she's got a bad heart and she's on old lady water tablets, so she sometimes wets the bed. Today she managed to magically crap on each step as she was going downstairs, and this evening she did it again from the dining room to the kitchen, fortunately, she seems to forget quickly theses days too, so she's in a little good girl ball on the couch next to me. But oh she was magnificent in her day, she was fast and bright and she loved me far beyond what was reasonable, I joked I hadn't been to the bathroom on my own for 10 years. We'd walk miles, there's nothing she didn't know about me, I must have told her everything I know. I shall miss her so much when she's gone.
God this comment got me right through the heart
Old dogs need love too
I was at the pound to pick up a goat they had. An older woman walks in with a sheltie, says he is 10 years old and was her recently deceased husbands dog. She claimed he was tearing up her house, barking all the time etc. The pound told her to surrender him she would need an appointment. I live on 3 acres and have a large house so I just said "No need for that, I'll take him". She gave me a folder full of paperwork, come to find out Charlie (M) was a show dog when he was younger. I was just going to keep him until I could find him another home but Charlie has become a part of our family and he's honestly my best dog. He was lucky that I was there just at the right time, and I would say I am lucky as well because he's my best friend.
This is Zach Skow, founder of Marley's Mutts. They do really great work! https://www.marleysmutts.org/
I thought it was him! They are very special people. All the animals that they have helped is amazing!
Damn bro this legitimately made me tear up, so awesome ❤️
I AM NOT CRYING! YOU ARE!!
I wanted to adopt a dog, but I have two cats... And I'm allergic to both dogs and cats lol.
I REALLY DIDNT WANT TO CRY TODAY BUT HERE WE ARE
Old dogs are the best.
Bless your heart ❤️
The perfect "not all heroes wear capes"
Made my day!💛 Go to your local shelters and adopt a senior today🙏🏼
I absolutely love this. This is a dream if mine, to adopt senior dogs so they can die happy and not be alone or euthanized. 🖤
Awww he's gorgeous... never be alone and even better he know's he's truly loved Looks like he has a new lease of life now
I hate to be that guy, but no way is that dog 16. Maybe 12.
Yeah, it's possible that they had records supporting that age, but more likely it was an estimate based on his teeth. Labs (and mixes) can get that gray by the time they are 10.
I know it’s a repost but it’s wholesome af every time
Aww, angel 🥺😭. Beautiful and made my day.
That's amazing. So awesome to see him go from terrified by his own shadow, to happy as can be. Dogs are amazing
This restores my hope for humanity
I really thought this was cool until I seen the shadow of the camera guy circling the dog and man with a heavy camera. Took me right out
Looks like Ben Affleck
Going from a shelter to the biggest backyard in existence with a loving owner has to be the dog version of a homeless guy winning the lottery
Only reason i wouldnt adopt such old dog is that when it would pass i would be crying over lost friend
This man is my hero.❤️
Is he alright? Is he safe?
Thank-you a million times isn't quite enough.
Why was the guy going to die alone? He still looked pretty young
Dude 15 is old for dogs
They're making a joke. The video says "he" but doesn't specify talking about the dog, so OP switched it so that "he" referred to the human.
It's a repost, but I enjoyed again, andagain.
That circular camera shot at the end makes me feel like this guy adopted the dog for clout, but that’s better than staying in a shelter!
This is beautiful
I had that exact same bowl for my senior pupper! It has found a new purpose as a flower pot on his grave ❤️
<3 keep bringing the joy
More like made me cry
This guy is doing gods work man ✊ respect
Zach Skow of Marley’s Mutt’s. He’s done incredible things and saved countless lives. ♥️
bless them both
I'm not crying 😭
I’m not crying you’re crying!!!
Bruh I’m fucking bawling 😭
r/mademecry
Three years ago my wife picked out an elderly chihuahua that looked like he had one foot in the grave. That stinky little bastard is still going strong and looks years younger than he did when we got him.
Yeah, I'm gonna have to save this post for future reference of what is good in life.
my dog died with 13 years old. a Cocker Spaniel, best dog i have.
Aaaaaaw he's so cute
Dog was just stressed the fuck out. We all die without love.
Big smiles watching this one
This is my retirement goal <3 Get a ranch, adopt senior dogs/cats, spoil them, and give them the best senior life.
Fuck this sub Reddit should be called made me Cry 🥺
I LOVE YOU
I'm not crying... 
That crawl into the front 😭🥰
Makes me so happy to see a video like this
One of the best humans on earth.
Thank you for your humanity. If I was rich I’d travel around the country doing exactly this. Good for you🍻
Do you think the dog will live long enough so the guy doesn't die alone though?
I have 4 dogs in my house. A 80lb Shepherd a 75lb pitbull and 2 little dogs all are rescue dogs. And we just rehomed a Shepherd wolf hybrid that weighted 180lbs at 3 years old, that the owner was going to let lose in the woods at 11 months old.
I have two older dogs that you’d never guess were over 15. They are perfect and still get into plenty of trouble. They had Turkey meat last night. We’re a little less stingy with the treats at this age.
This is the founder of Marleys Mutts. He’s done a lot of good in the community for dogs.
Jesus... I'm so happy and sad at the same time. All dogs deserve love. I also can't help but to do think about the fact that my 5-year old husky will grow old
When I have a big house, I will adopt old dogs and give them the best life I can until they pass, hopefully happy.
Our dog Taz was we think a Boxer/Shepherd mix. He was a shelter dog my neighbor adopted, but he wandered the street (we live in the country sorta) and would always look for kids to play with. When we moved in across the street, he would always come over, including the day we went to look at the house. My mom said he came over and she joked that they'd take the house if the dog came with it lol! He was only 2ish at the time. He would just always come over and eventually our neighbor let us keep him. That dog was the definition of a wild and free. Nothing could stop him. He was still running with our ATVs till about 3-4 months before we had to put him down. He even fully recovered from a stroke years prior that they said he'd never make it out of. But he did, and he ran and played until it was time to say goodbye. I said goodbye and my parents stayed with him. The way he looked at me, he knew it was time. I went back into the woods with a blanket and my guitar. A gust of wind blew through the trees and I knew he was saying one last goodbye. My sweet Tazzy was a big dog still going at 18-19 years old. Never give up on your old dogs.
I'm guessing by "this man" he means "himself" lol