14 years and 1 month old, Grina, is as spritely as ever. She is a little deaf now, and her eyesight is deteriorating a bit, but her energy and joie de vivre is as good as ever. She came to me as a LTF just over 4 years ago, after a failed adoption (Not her fault).
She has been on a journey with me, and helped me with many fosterlings. Instinctively, she knows what they need. Lively and playful with adult dogs; playful, but firm with puppies; gentle and calm with sick, or traumatised, dogs, she has been my right hand girl, and my job as a fosterer would have been much harder without her, especially with the traumatised, fearful dogs. When they arrive, I leave it very much in her gentle paws to allow them to decompress, and learn to relax while also learning that I am not a monster human. Eventually they come to me of their own accord, and that is the point where I can really get to work with them.
Everyone who meets her falls in love with her….vets, children, the people who look after her when I have to go away (in fact I have to prise her out of their arms when I return, and one actually offered me visiting rights!!).
I have owned many dogs in my 73 years, and fostered a fair few, but I have never known a dog like her. She is the best dog I have ever had. I worried about taking on an older dog, but it was the best decision I have ever made. I have had the honour and privilege of looking after this sweet, gentle, loving soul for over 4 years, and would recommend taking on a senior dog to anyone.
What you can do to help
If you are of a ‘certain age’, or, indeed someone who is young, where you feel that taking on a puppy/kitten, or a young dog/cat, is not really going to work for you, and you have space in your heart or, more importantly, on your sofa, to offer one, or more, oldies the chance of a good life in their remaining years, then please get in touch https://lesamisdesanimaux.com/animals/ . Remember, there is no adoption fee for a lifetime foster, and all vets fees, other than annual vaccinations, and parasitical medication, are covered by Les Amis des Animaux.
If you are interested in supporting our work follow the link below to our Foster and Adoptions page https://bit.ly/LesAmisFosterAdoptions .
If you are not able to take on one of the oldies, you could always sponsor the Support Our Seniors initiative, and you can donate via the button at the top of the post.
