Welcome to the St. Louis Senior Dog Project Blog. Check out our adoptable dogs at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org. We're a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) all volunteer dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs, but taking in dogs of all ages. Read on...and remember we always need your help...as donors and adoptors.
Ellen's Notes:
Why do we still have this dog?
That’s the question we ask ourselves when a great dog has trouble finding a home.
Take Penny, for example. I’ve taken to calling her Penny Perfect because she is so perfectly well behaved, so totally housebroken and such a sweet snuggly bed warmer. She’s only a little bit senior ( 8 or 9 years) and she’s healthy and seems much younger than her years. She’s easy to walk but still loves chasing squirrels. Penny lost her first owner to a nursing home, so she’s comfortable and respectful of senior citizens but happy with people of all ages.
But we still have her. She still needs a home. She almost had a home once but was unhappy living in an apartment and barked when her owner was away. Another almost adoption ended when the new owner turned out to be allergic to Penny.
Then there’s Carrie, a 7 year old Red Tick Coonhound. Carrie is a calm beauty, easy to love. She’s a little shy when she first meets new people, but once she settles in, she’s happy to share your space and time. She’s waited so long for a new home. Maybe this week?
Conventional wisdom says it’s easier to place small dogs and puppies than old dogs and big dogs. But we run into exceptions all the time. We shook our heads week after week when no one came for a Pekingese puppy while we did place a three-legged 14- year-old dog. We placed an old Pomeranian but couldn’t find homes for two younger, cuter Poms.
I recently wrote about nine dogs we took in from a research facility. Most had lived there most of their lives testing flavors used in dog food. They were between the ages of 9 and 14. So far we’ve placed Lady, a nine-year-old beagle; Rusty, a 14-year-old shepherd mix; Dianna, a 9-year-old spaniel mix, and Tri-Pod, the 14-year-old three-legged one. Robyn might stay with her foster home. I’m concentrating now on Sassy, a 10-year-old Hound mix who loves, loves, loves children. We’re also still seeking homes for Leigha, Sooner and Athena.
And now we have a new challenge. This week we took in a pair of schnauzers who must go together. This alone should make them hard to place. But they are also both eight years old. That could be a problem too. And here’s the rest: Ruby is blind and Easel is three-legged. Easel hobbles along just fine and is the eyes for Ruby. These dogs will steal your heart. They are friendly and happy dogs who have survived so much and deserve the best for the rest of their years.
Of course, we’ve received letters and emails. Gloria (now Olive), who was treated for two broken legs, is doing well in her new home. “Every day she does something new that makes us smile, “ writes Karen.
Mickey, once a scared little black Chihuahua, is “feeling right at home,” writes Deanna. Mickey now has a sparkle in his eyes and has progressed from nervous fast walking to “a full gallop.”
And Buggsy, now Paco , is “quite the bed hog and burrower in the family bed,” reports Coby and Heather. Paco also is quite handsome in his new sweater.
Thanks to all of you.
Ellen Ellick
President/Founder
St. Louis Senior Dog Project
