I just want the GYO world to know

[Lumpy]

That if you are like us.
Medical issues
Nearly 60 (how did that happen)
Small garden
Fear of vet bills (can be daunting)
Like dogs
Want some company
Don’t want a puppy who needs training and might just chew all and sundry.
Please
Please
Please
Look for an older dog.
We have had a lot of oldies and those that needed end of life care. It’s hard but so worthwhile.
There are places to foster (where they pay the vet bills)
The Oldies Club

Can’t you tell I’m sad about the old boy that could have been....

[Nicos]

Good call Lumpy...you are an angel xx

[Cadalot]

Wife keeps on about getting an old dog, but I know who will get lumbered with taking it for a walk so I'm resisting, I told her "anyway I've already got one why would I want another?".

It's quite snug out here in the kennel and I get good wifi

[Small pumpkin]

I'd love to lumpy. But it would be very unfair on the old thing while my two loutish lunatics are still young.
One day I will



Loutish lunatics in action!

[Snadger]

The best and most faithful dog I ever had was a rescued huge German Shepherd dog. Wife brought him home and I said "Take him back, you don't know his history" I relented when he started following me wherever I went. I had to hacksaw a brass chain off his neck and all his ruff grew back nicely.

Poor bugger used to lie drooling in front of the oven when the Sunday joint was cooking.

I cried buckets when old Kas had to be put down because of cancer and would always give a home to a rescue dog rather than a puppy,

[veggiechicken]

Most of my rescues have been ex-puppy farm bitches - cash generators for unscrupulous breeders who dispose of them when they are too old to churn out puppies.
Dogs that have spent all their lives in concrete pens, never been house trained or walked on leads. Scared to walk on grass, overgrown claws, matted coats - you get the picture.
The pleasure in bringing those dogs out of their shells and learn to play like they should have done when they were young is immeasurable.
RIP Dottie, Lily, Rosie and Mary.
Bess came from the same rescue but wasn't a puppy machine - or so I thought.

[mcdood]

same as others have said my home already has 2 crazies in it so wouldnt be a gentle resting home. We have said our next dog will be rescue.

[mcdood]

might just add the previous dogs we have had were all rescues but we went indulgently for puppies this last time. For anyone out there thinking of a dog, take a rescue for selfish reasons as well as ethical reasons, puppies are hard work.

[Small pumpkin]

I've always wanted rescue dogs. Bob's always says the same as Snadger ( used to ) " you don't know the history ".
Managed to talk Bob into getting Breeze ( the Labrador). He was a rescue. Only 4 months old. But it's a start. I'll get to give a home to some oldies one day.

[Lumpy]

What a brilliant lot you all are.
Cad we only get the ‘short walks needed’ or ‘just a garden’

Either way any age out of rescue is good. I just wanted to sing the praises of the overload oldies. Yes, it’s hard when an EIF (end of lifer) arrives but here is better than alone in a kennel etc.
We got a Greyhound years ago. Paid a fiver for him from a horse fair. No fur, very under weight, ears tasseled with scissors and covered in sores.
After treatment and feeling secure probably the gentlest dog we have ever had. Collie who spent her 6 years of life in a 4X6 shed as a puppy machine. She had sat sarcoptic mange. She was 13 when she died in my arms. There are many more stories but I’m starting to depress myself.
XX

[Cadalot]

This was my last dog, we took him on at 3 years as his owners split up. I said ok lets meet the dog and see, I thought we would sit have a cup of tea and a chat and see if he took to us and we to him. The previous owners just brought him in complete with giant cage and left. He was never put in a giant cage again and I use it to grow cucumber up on the allotment these days.

Wife and kids were sold as they saw him coming up the path. He was at the end of the day my little lad. The photo is him coming towards me just before he would dig a hole in the grass so that I would chase him around the garden as he know if he did that I would chase him.

We had him until he was 14 when chronic illness meant we had to have him put to sleep because we could not maintain his quality of life anymore.

[Lumpy]

Cad - I can see the pain in your words.
I know THAT injection is tough. Every dog we have had for the last few years has its collar put in one of my fruit trees as a memorial.
X

[Guest]

Loved our retired greyhound. Glad he got the best of both worlds. Good working/racing life and a spoilt retirement. Just got to hope one day my youngest will be sensible and we can get another retired racer.

Yes puppies are cute but rather have an oldie any day.

[mcdood]

This was my last old boy deciding to make a bed out of sons laptop bag.
1st attempt at attachment, here 's hoping

[mcdood]

My latest no.2 furry friend would be far too clever for those shenanigans