The Joys of Life with Senior Animal Companions, Part 1 of 2

Although animal-elders may be advanced in years, they can bring unexpected entertainment and giggles when adopted into a new home. “The people at the rescue had never really heard him sing. Three days later, I went to go feed them dinner and out of nowhere he just starts this honking bray. And he’s done it every day ever since.” “My only intent was to get him out of the shelter, because he’s 19. When he first came up and put his head on my lap and started nuzzling me, it tugged at my heart.” Elka was around 18 years old when Brenda Wilkinson, founder of Hands of Mercy Cat Sanctuary, USA, took her in. But one of the most defining moments was when Ms. Wilkinson put a lovely bright orange collar onto Elka’s neck. Ms. Wilkinson vividly remembers this beautiful moment and stated, “I could feel everything inside of her leap with joy.”

Mig has known Toup for almost a decade now. “I knew that he was living outdoors for a really long time before I came into his life. And since Toup, I started the Biscuit Factory to start rescuing other animals. Toup is missing half his ear, missing half his teeth and half his tail, but he’s living a full life.” “This is a story of how a senior dog changed my life forever. Day by day she starts to open up. Every day I slowly work with her, and I show her all the things that she has been missing out on. She’s learning that there’s more to life than being locked away in a tiny, dark shed. It just feels so nice to see her enjoy the simple things after more than 10 years of being miserable.” A young boy, Robbie Gay, had a heart-wrenching past. Although he had found new loving parents, Robbie could not cry or express his emotions, until... “He is so aware that it could have gone totally differently for him. And in these older dogs, Robbie’s found a place to practice compassion.” Robbie started volunteering at the humane society where he has become a powerful advocate for older dogs.