Those who like a Sunday read should enjoy this article. The pictures alone are worth the time:
What a lovely story! Thanks for posting the article, Bossybaby.
This is my dream.
I've had elderly, handicapped, or ill dogs for the last 20 years. Once your life is turned upside down by one special needs pup, adding another dozen or so is a doodle.
Sadly, I could never set up my Muttley Crew Altersheim in Switzerland.
But maybe in Vermont...
The pictures are indeed great. I love the one with the wagon.
When our elderly dogs had problems walking we also took them in a wagon.
We did get some very strange looks.
But as a Swiss friend of mine once said to me, once you have earned a reputation here you can live your life in peace.
I'm glad everybody enjoyed it. Sure he's known around his neighbourhood as The Crazy Dog Man, but I especially liked his description of why he isn't sad after they pass. It isn't a loss to him, it's a redemption of sorts.
"Greig reckons that dogs, like (most) people, become the best versions of themselves as they grow old."
So very true, as anyone who has been blessed with the love of an old dog can attest.
Decades ago I had moved back to the family ranch in the wine country with my elderly saluki Raida Rashida-bina ("Star of the Desert"). "The Beaner**" was rickety, arthritic, and increasingly feeble. Then I met a man who lived in a faraway country, and he asked me to marry him. It was clear that The Beaner couldn't make the journey--everyone (including my vet) said she would never survive it. My sister loved her and wanted to keep her, so I left her there. I still dream of her (in last night's, I drew a beautiful pencil portrait of her, despite having absolutely no artistic skills). I still feel guilty. She lived another 5 years.
**I just read that this can be used as a perjorative against Mexicans. I had never heard that, even living in heavily Spanish-speaking California. Just shows who I was NOT exposed to!
Had a similar problem and a neighbour lent me a rollator to carry our dog.
Was once walking with my dog past the local old people's home and some well-meaning people tried to drag me in
Ohhh this story just made my heart so happy, thanks for the warm fuzzy today bossybaby
My mum in Australia regularly ends up with older animals. I swear her local animal shelters know that she's a soft touch and whenever there's a sad case, they call her. I do know that it's a good thing of course - their end of life with her is luxury. But I don't think I could do it myself. I'm too soft-hearted, it would break me.
Every so often I wonder about when I will eventually have to say goodbye to Zola. She's my whole world. She'll be two in a few weeks so hopefully that is a LONG way off.
I've been following his IG for a few years now and I love seeing updates
Taking care of an elderly pet is a LOT of hard work and sometimes it's really, really difficult to decide what is best for both human and pet. My (incl. our family dogs when I was young) dogs in the past went rather quickly, ie. within half a year since a health issue started or, had to be put down due to a brain tumor. All between the age of 12.5-16 years.
My parents' current dog is 16 yrs 8 mo. old now. She has been totally blind and deaf for 2 years. She can't walk much anymore, still tries to get out of her bed to pee (bless her!!) but then can't find her bed, so she needs 24 hour care. You need to guide her 3-4 times a night when she tries to get up to release herself - and back to her bed. She can't drink from a bowl anymore, so she gets water through a syringe. She is dement. But she is not in pain at all and still has a GREAT appetite, which is a sign she wants to live.
It's too hard for my elderly parents physically, so since 2 years, my sister has moved in with them to take care of our beloved family dog-while working 100%. They rotate sleeping in the living room on a futon. Once in a while my sister will go back to her own apartment, for a highly needed rest, as she hasn't slept properly for 2 years and is totally worn out. She hasn't taken a holiday, and very, very few moments out with friends during this time. Thanks to covid, she mostly works from home - we would not have known what to do if she had to commute 3 hours daily back and forth.
The last 2 years, I went home for 3 weeks each - to take off their "burden" so they could rest a bit. OMG, after 3 weeks of almost no sleep, I came back exhausted. I can't imagine how my sister and parents are holding up for so long. I will go visit my family again this autumn, and of course, while very much looking forward to spending time with our family dog and taking care of her again, I am also concerned about the health of my parents and sister. It's physically and emotionally very, very hard.
While the shock and pain of my last dog dying of a heart problem at "only 12.5 yrs" was terrible, seeing an old (but otherwise healthy) dog simply, well....aging away.....is also extremely difficult - for our dog herself....and the care takers...