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I'm putting this in the senior section as it relates to one of my oldies...
I've been looking after(boarding and walks) this little dog in question for almost 10 years now and she is around 16 years old. (She was adopted by her owner a little while before, with her doggy friend who has since passed.) Her eyesight is really poor, hearing going, heart murmur, occasional incontinence and showing signs of dementia but is super sweet... her owner picked her up from me yesterday and said she had a problem... she is moving to a flat with no garden and is concerned how she'll manage with this little dogs issues and was asking my advice. My first response(maybe not tactful!) was to ask if what she was saying was that she was considering euthanasia? She said no, but doesn't know what to do, re home maybe. In our conversation I did say it's doable with no garden, you just take them out regularly and I said I'd done it before with my old yorkie pretty successfully, it just takes time and effort and acceptance that accidents will happen... the owner has quite a busy lifestyle and enjoys an active social life and going away etc, and the level of care this little dog needs (which isn't huge at the moment but it is some extra work of course) I get the feeling, is not something she really wants sadly...
Rehoming at this stage of her life I felt was not an option, when she comes to me it usually takes the first 24hours for her to settle and not wander around or follow me, after this period she is fine, everything is familiar to her and she's quite happy, it just takes her the first day to re adjust. Putting her in a brand you environment would totally throw her and I know she would find it incredibly distressing. And now to my dilemma... I would have her in a heartbeat but for my other boarders. I've made a commitment to them all, now that they are all elderly too, to see this licence out which is until Dec 25.
None of them cope well with other dogs and this little dog really can't cope with others, she is very fearful...
I feel heartbroken over this situation, I understand the owner but at the same time I'm cross because this is the stage of life her little dog needs her most...
What to do? My only thoughts at the moment are to maybe suggest I have her but when I have a boarder she takes her back for that period, so kind of reversal of roles... Any thoughts, suggestions etc would be gratefully received! Sorry for the usual rambling effort!!
I've been looking after(boarding and walks) this little dog in question for almost 10 years now and she is around 16 years old. (She was adopted by her owner a little while before, with her doggy friend who has since passed.) Her eyesight is really poor, hearing going, heart murmur, occasional incontinence and showing signs of dementia but is super sweet... her owner picked her up from me yesterday and said she had a problem... she is moving to a flat with no garden and is concerned how she'll manage with this little dogs issues and was asking my advice. My first response(maybe not tactful!) was to ask if what she was saying was that she was considering euthanasia? She said no, but doesn't know what to do, re home maybe. In our conversation I did say it's doable with no garden, you just take them out regularly and I said I'd done it before with my old yorkie pretty successfully, it just takes time and effort and acceptance that accidents will happen... the owner has quite a busy lifestyle and enjoys an active social life and going away etc, and the level of care this little dog needs (which isn't huge at the moment but it is some extra work of course) I get the feeling, is not something she really wants sadly...
Rehoming at this stage of her life I felt was not an option, when she comes to me it usually takes the first 24hours for her to settle and not wander around or follow me, after this period she is fine, everything is familiar to her and she's quite happy, it just takes her the first day to re adjust. Putting her in a brand you environment would totally throw her and I know she would find it incredibly distressing. And now to my dilemma... I would have her in a heartbeat but for my other boarders. I've made a commitment to them all, now that they are all elderly too, to see this licence out which is until Dec 25.
None of them cope well with other dogs and this little dog really can't cope with others, she is very fearful...
I feel heartbroken over this situation, I understand the owner but at the same time I'm cross because this is the stage of life her little dog needs her most...
What to do? My only thoughts at the moment are to maybe suggest I have her but when I have a boarder she takes her back for that period, so kind of reversal of roles... Any thoughts, suggestions etc would be gratefully received! Sorry for the usual rambling effort!!