When an older dog ends up in a shelter, their chances of adoption are often low. Although older dogs are cute and cuddly companions, many people still want a dog they will have for many more years. That’s understandable, but dogs of all ages deserve to live in a comfortable home for the rest of their lives. As they run out of time on this planet, adoption becomes even more important.
So when a 15-year-old dog was injured at the shelter again 12 years after it was adopted, the staff quickly found it a new home. They posted an emotional post on social media and before long, her story had a happy ending!
Dumping at the shelter again
15 year old Netty was adopted from Pennsylvania SPCA back in 2010. After 12 years together, her family returned her because they thought she was out of control. But with medication and more frequent shower breaks, Netty did well at the shelter. However, she was understandably depressed.
“Animal bounce rates vary widely and it doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, especially after a decade, it can be heartbreaking. Such was the case with Netty. However, instead of focusing on what happened to bring her back to us, we chose to focus on how we can give her the best of her final days,” said Gillian Kocher. , said the director of public relations at the Pennsylvania SPCA.
So the shelter posted about Netty on Facebook, begging someone to adopt her so she could be pampered. They explain that she is a low-maintenance girl who gets along well with dogs, cats, and children. They wanted to make sure she wasn’t sitting in a shelter in her final days.
Their emotional post attracted a lot of attention from Netty. Soon after, many people commented saying that they wanted to adopt the old dog. Some of them even live in other states!
A true eternal family
When Amy Kidd, owner of Pocopson Veterinary Station, heard Netty’s story, she fell in love with the heartbroken dog. Kidd and her family have a passion for adopting senior and special needs pets, so after her receptionist told her about the Facebook post, Kidd learned that She has to meet the dog. Sure, her kids and Netty loved each other very much.
“As a small-scale veterinarian, I see the need for senior pets on a daily basis. Puppies and kittens are always adopted, leaving puppy mothers, adult pets and the elderly to perish,” Kidd said. “Having lost 12-year-old saving Pointer to cancer last month, we’ve got our eyes on the next member of our family. Then there’s that face.”
RELATED: 8 Rewarding Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog
Kidd said the family’s goal is to pamper Netty as much as possible, no matter how many days she’s been away. When they first brought her home, she put herself at ease immediately. She loves taking a nap in one of the beanbag baby chairs, and she’ll even curl up next to her new feline siblings.
The family are also conducting aquatic physiotherapy on Netty in their pool to improve her mobility as she battles arthritis. At first, Netty was hesitant, but it seemed she understood. She trusts her new self because she can tell how much they love her.
Netty had a happy ending, but her story is an important reminder that a lot of older dogs have trouble adopting. If you can, consider adopting or fostering older dogs to give them a cozy home environment.
Featured pictures: Facebook
