As kids, many of us wished we could have a dog. Many of us want a dog because they are friendly and love us no matter what. Many of us wish our dogs would never get old so we wouldn’t have to give them up.
Some people, though, decide that the dog’s time is up long before the Grim Reaper has them on his list. They are acting badly. They’re not easy. They aren’t the same dogs that made the family fall in love. They are old. They say all the reasons they can think of, but those who care don’t hear them.
This is the story of Netty, who, after being adopted and living with a family for more than a decade, was taken back to the shelter where she had been found and asked to be put to sleep. The vets saw hope in the puppy’s eyes, so they didn’t put her down. Instead, they put her up for adoption so she could find a new home in her golden years.
Even though the vets at the shelter looked at her and thought she still had a good quality of life, her owners wouldn’t buy her any medicine or treatment.
In 2010, Netty, a pit bull mix who was 15 years old, was taken to a shelter in Philadelphia. She was only there for a few days before she was taken home. After being loved and loyal for more than a decade, she was taken back to the same shelter to be put down.
Gillian told Bored Panda that they look at each animal on its own, but that it’s rare for a dog to come back to the shelter after 10 years. “That is definitely an extreme case.” However, he also believes that it’s “an extremely personal decision,” and a nuanced one at that.
Maddie Bernstein, who is in charge of lifesaving at the Pennsylvania SPCA, told The Washington Post, “She was old and had some trouble with incontinence at home.” Maddie says that Netty’s former owners “didn’t want to talk about other options for her, like medications.”
But when the vets at the shelter looked at her, they saw a puppy who still wanted to live and had the strength to do so. Maddy said, “They thought she still had a good life.” “They gave her medicine, and it helped her a lot.” She was beginning to get better.
The Pennsylvania SPCA posted about Netty on social media and asked if anyone would be willing to take her in. Thankfully, a lot of people helped.
Once Netty was on her way to getting better, the shelter put out a message on social media asking if anyone would be interested in adopting her and giving her the best life she deserved. Even though they hoped for the best, they knew it would be hard because older dogs “don’t usually get a lot of attention for adoption,” as Maddy put it.
On their social media pages, the team wrote, “We’re sorry to disappoint you again, but here we are.” This old woman might be in a shelter for her last days “That’s not what we want for her. So, we are trying to find her a place to stay for as long as she has left. Netty is easy to take care of, and she could live with good dogs, cats, and kids. “Can you help us tell people about this beautiful soul so she can move out of the shelter and into a warm, comfortable bed?”
Soon, there were a lot of comments on the post, and it was shared hundreds of times.
Amy Kidd, a veterinarian at Pocopson Veterinary Station, saw the post and knew that Netty was the right dog for her, her family, and their six other senior dogs.
Amy Kidd, a vet in West Chester, saw it and was interested. Just a month before, their family’s 12-year-old rescue dog, Monty, died of cancer. They were looking for a new senior dog to welcome into their home. Netty was perfect in every way.Amy replied, “I knew she was the one who needed to come to my house as soon as I saw her facial expression.”
Amy and her family have six old dogs that are between 12 and 16 years old. They have been taking in senior dogs with only a month or two left to live for almost a decade. Amy laughed and said, “When they come to our house, it’s kind of like a fountain of youth,” because most of her K9 guests lived three or four years longer. She said, “As long as we try to help them in the best way we can.” “We want to add to our family only older pets or animals with health issues that need treatments and more care.”
While Amy was at work at the Pocopson Veterinary Station in West Chester, her daughter and two sons drove about 40 miles from their home in Kennett Square to Philadelphia to pick up Netty. They also brought along two of their older dogs to make sure that all of the dogs got along. Emilea Suplick said, “It was time to meet her, and I saw her walking down the hallway.” “She sniffed me and wagged her tail at me a little bit.”
When it was time for Netty to meet her new family, she ran up and began wagging her tail. When everyone saw that, they knew that the deal was done.
The shelter staff said that it was a done deal once the dog’s tail started to wag. Emilea said that Netty was very good on the way to her new home and “just settled in right away” when she got there. “She knew it was her house.”
With medicine, Netty’s family was able to take care of her incontinence quickly, and her arthritis in her lower spine and elbows has been steadily getting better.Amy replied, “She’s a very stubborn girl, which is hilarious since she’s supposed to be an old lady who can’t walk.” “She is the queen of the house as of right now.” She went up the stairs on her own with no problems. She does it on a daily basis…I think she’s going to stick around for a while.
The family thinks Netty has a lot to offer and hopes that her story will encourage other people to give adult dogs a chance. People say that an old dog can’t learn new tricks, but that’s not true. All it takes is a lot of love and patience.
Gillian thinks that an older dog would do well with “anyone who has a heart and a home that they are willing to open to an older pet.” “These animals are nearing the end of their lives, and they want comfort and love.” “They don’t need much, but being comfortable is important.”
Now, Netty is living the best life she can. Amy hopes that this story will encourage more people to adopt older people, who deserve love and care just as much as anyone else.
A hyperactive young puppy that has never been trained may not be the best pet for someone who doesn’t have the time, energy, or money to raise it right. So why not get a dog that is (in most cases) much calmer, housetrained, and still as loving and loyal?
Of course, every old dog has its own story, which may include a sad past or bad habits that need to be broken. Their health might be a bigger worry than if they were younger.
Before getting a pet, you should always think about the ifs and buts, since their lives depend on you alone. Gillian thinks that anyone who wants to adopt a dog, no matter how old they are, should be “ready for a lifetime commitment.” In the best case, these animals are members of your family and should be your closest friends. “Be ready to commit for life, whether it’s for 5 years, 10 years, or even longer.”
We hope that Netty and her new family have a great life together, and we hope she has many more years to play in the sun.