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Post by meandmine on Dec 18, 2019 20:31:20 GMT
Just a question. I am about to celebrate my 65th birthday and OH was 70 in September.
We have two dogs aged 10 1/2 and three and a bit. For sometime we have been thinking about taking in another rescue dog but always thought of one aged maybe four - six years old.
Today we have seen a twelve months old little lady ( who has various health problems similar to our present dogs') on a rescue site, and, having been in touch with the rescue think we would probably stand a good chance of being allowed to adopt her if we put in an application. So......what would you do if you were us. Are we too old to take on such a young dog? We still walk miles every day and take part in agility classes so are relatively fit.
I know there is no right or wrong answer and ultimately it is us who will make the decision but just wondered what other people's opinions were?
Many thanks in advance for any comments.
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Post by cazypops on Dec 18, 2019 23:50:05 GMT
If you feel fit and able, then I'd go for it. Age is just a number, so it doesn't matter how old, or young you are, it's more how fit do you feel, and only you can answer that.
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Post by tonib on Dec 19, 2019 0:16:01 GMT
I echo cazypops words meandmine as regards your ages & fitness. I presume your 2 existing dogs won't mind a younger dog joining them. I can't remember what size of dogs you have as that would be the only comment, not for now but for say 6/7 years into the future in terms of lifting them. I'm not a dog owner but I am between your 2 ages & am glad I only have 3 cats in terms of taking to the vets etc. Admittedly dogs normally walk into the vets (sometimes needing encouragement) whereas cats have to be carried & 5.85Kg cat plus its carrier is plenty for me. That has got nothing to do with the age of the proposed dog other than its life span & your future abilities.
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Post by lotsofcats on Dec 19, 2019 9:29:03 GMT
I agree with both of the above replies. If you think that your present dogs will accept the new dog and that she isn't too boisterous for them and for you, then I would go for it. Good luck if you do and please let us know how it goes. What size and breed is the new dog?
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Post by meandmine on Dec 19, 2019 18:10:54 GMT
Thank you for your thoughts. We are as sure we can be that our present dogs would be ok with a newcomer.
They are small dogs ( Cavalier King Charles spaniels) weighing between 7.5 and 8 k and I would presume the prospective new one ( also a Cavalier) would be similar.
She's a beautiful little thing and OH has fallen for her bigtime, my only real concern is that when you are our age you never know what is "round the corner" and if we developed a health problem what would happen to the dog. I know illness can occur at any time of life but it is something that has to be given plenty of thought the older you get.
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Post by lotsofcats on Dec 20, 2019 9:31:08 GMT
I can understand you thinking "What if?" as things like that cross my mind as I have 7 cats and 1 dog. I've never looked into it but some pet charities will look after your pets if anything happens to you - I'll have to have a look. I expect you have to pay or promise them something in your will - it's buying peace of mind.
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Post by scallywag on Dec 20, 2019 12:05:44 GMT
I know illness can occur at any time of life but it is something that has to be given plenty of thought the older you get.
Hi you are 2 years older than me and I certainly plan on getting another one when I loose Beau, BUT I also got to loose my O.H too He is 10 years older than me and he has said NO MORE DOGS AFTER BEAU So im gonna be a ripe old age possibly. I have done too much worrying about what ifs ( where my O.H health is concerned ) 2008 he had a heart attack and I have been refusing to drive to France any more worrying what if he has another. Go for it is what I say. Good luck with your decision xx P.S I still will not go on any driving holidays not even in this country
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Post by meandmine on Dec 20, 2019 20:44:05 GMT
Again, many thanks for your thoughts and comments.
'Scallywag' - my OH too has heart problems so you have my sympathies!! For twelve months after diagnosis I don't think we were further than an hour or so from the specialist hospital.
After lots of thinking, talking and even more thinking we have lodged an application with the rescue but not directly for the young dog we had seen there. We are awaiting further updates on her and in the meantime will check the site regularly for older dogs that may need new homes.
Watch this space - I'll let you know what happens and thanks again.
PS Both our present dogs came to us with a contract that states that they would be returned to the rescue/ breeder concerned if we were, for any reason, unable to continue to care for them. Thinking about it I would presume the same condition will be in place with this rescue. This gives us peace of mind that they will always have a good home were anything to happen to both of us.
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Post by tonib on Dec 22, 2019 0:53:50 GMT
PS Both our present dogs came to us with a contract that states that they would be returned to the rescue/ breeder concerned if we were, for any reason, unable to continue to care for them. Thinking about it I would presume the same condition will be in place with this rescue. This gives us peace of mind that they will always have a good home were anything to happen to both of us.
That's the same contract with the cats I got from the rescue meandmine , the advice is to make sure that close family/relevant people are aware of this & I've also got it in my will. My concern about size is definitely not an issue with your breed of dog Good luck with an adoption whatever the age
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Post by meandmine on Jan 19, 2020 17:31:38 GMT
Thought I'd post a quick update. Having just read the latest information about the little dog we were thinking about, we have decided not to apply for her beautiful though she is. We had decided that age wise we would be ok and think she would have fitted in well with our present "family".
However her health condition seems to be even more serious than those of our present dogs ( she has run up a bill of £4,000 + since going into rescue) and, knowing that she will not be able to be insured for the IBD, we just cannot take on the sort of financial outlay she may need in the coming years. We've spent the bigger part of £500 on our elder girl in the last three weeks and will continue with her care for as long she is with us. Likewise with the younger one but to take on a third would just be too much.
She is adorable and I am sure someone will give her a lovely home.
We'll keep looking.
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Post by scallywag on Jan 19, 2020 18:55:51 GMT
Thought I'd post a quick update. Having just read the latest information about the little dog we were thinking about, we have decided not to apply for her beautiful though she is. We had decided that age wise we would be ok and think she would have fitted in well with our present "family".
However her health condition seems to be even more serious than those of our present dogs ( she has run up a bill of £4,000 + since going into rescue) and, knowing that she will not be able to be insured for the IBD, we just cannot take on the sort of financial outlay she may need in the coming years. We've spent the bigger part of £500 on our elder girl in the last three weeks and will continue with her care for as long she is with us. Likewise with the younger one but to take on a third would just be too much. She is adorable and I am sure someone will give her a lovely home.
We'll keep looking.
Thats a shame but in truth I would have done the same thing. Good luck with future search x
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Post by cazypops on Jan 19, 2020 21:40:42 GMT
I agree with scallywag, good luck with the search.
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Post by tonib on Jan 19, 2020 23:48:20 GMT
A shame but a sensible decision, sorry to read about your elder girl I hope she's improving meandmine.
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Post by meandmine on Feb 12, 2020 12:03:31 GMT
Just a quick update to say we shall continue to look for a new addition to the family.
Everything has been put on hold due to our older girl's illness ( vets' bills have now topped £4,000 + and still rising) but at long last she seems to be improving.
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Post by lotsofcats on Feb 12, 2020 14:06:35 GMT
So pleased that your older dog has started to show signs of improving.
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