Each year, 3.9 million dogs enter shelters and only 35 percent are adopted. The odds are even worse for senior dogs, who are seen as not as desirable as puppies and younger pups. We here at DCist know differently. (Just ask our 18-year-old mascot, Dante.) That’s why this November, dubbed Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we’re once again highlighting the older pets in our area who need homes.
Washington Humane Society
Lucille. Via WHS.
Lucille, 14: “Lucille is a senior pup who has tons of love to give! She is an easy and lovely dog who came to us when her family was moving and had to leave her behind. She is a great walking buddy but is also happy to keep you company on the couch. She’s a real gem and would bring so much happiness to your home. Lucille likely has Cushing’s disease, although she is living symptom-free with no needed treatment. Cushings can be common in older dogs and most live a happy long life. Lucille says she would like a quiet home to retire in! If she sounds like the pup for you, visit her at the New York Avenue Adoption Center today!”
Diesel, 7: “My name is Diesel and I am an adorable 7 year old, 68 lb boxer mix looking for my forever home. I came to WHS after my family could no longer have pets where they lived and I would love to be back in a home again. I don’t mind other pups but prefer just to do my own thing and be your one and only canine companion in the home. I have met kitties at the shelter and could likely go to a home with feline friends. I am a great age to keep you company on long walks but I don’t need tons of exercise so I will be a great cuddle buddy in winter as well. I also LOVE car rides so if you need a travel buddy, I’m your guy. If you want to learn more e-mail dogfoster@washhumane.org with questions or come visit me at 7319 Georgia Ave NW any day but Wednesdays from noon to 7pm.”
Preston, 9: “I’m in foster care! I’m Preston! I am a sweet-tempered and lovable pup who loves to snuggle. Although I’m a little over 30lbs, I still think I’m a lap dog. I’d be great for a family who can shower me with attention and love. I enjoy going for long strolls or jogs, and while I haven’t quite mastered the idea of ‘drop,’ I’m a sucker for a good game of catch. Even though I’m 9, I’m young at heart, spirited, and playful. In general, I’m pretty laid back and prefer to be always be around people. I’m house trained but not crate trained, so when you’re not around, I’m most comfortable left roaming the house. E-mail my foster family at smith.matthew330@gmail.com to learn more.”
The Washington Animal Rescue League
Indy. Via WARL.
Indy, 7: “Indy is a handsome 7 year old Australian Cattle Dog/Bulldog mix who is a wonderful companion. In his foster home he gets along well with an older dog and with two teenaged children. He sleeps through the night, is fully house-trained, and can be left alone without a problem. He travels well in the car and loves to chase and retrieve a ball. Indy is a sensitive dog and certain situations make him rather afraid. Because of this he will bark and growl at strangers, and the ideal adopter will be someone who has experience living with fearful dogs. His foster mom is helping him handle these fears and he is making great progress. If you are interested in meeting Indy, feel free to email LRHUD7@gmail.com. Bonus: If you are over the age of 50, his adoption fee is waived as part of WARL’s Boomers’ Buddies program.. Visit Indy’s blog.”
Galena, 9: Described as a “goofball.”
City Dogs Rescue
Buddy, 7-8: “Buddy is a senior Husky who, along with his brother Buster, lost his human to a drunk driver. He is now leaving the only home he’s ever known and coming to the DC area to find his new family. He’s very friendly, playful and affectionate and we know he will transition well with the help of his wonderful foster family, Sarah, Josh and Wrangler.”
Buster. Via City Dogs.
Buster, 7-8: “Buster is a senior blind Boxer mix who, along with his brother Buddy, lost his human to a drunk driver. He is now leaving the only home he’s ever known and coming to the DC area to find his new family. He’s very gently, friendly and affectionate and we know he will transition well with the help of his wonderful foster family, Sarah, Josh and Wrangler.”
Doogie, 8: “Doogie is such a sweet dude! He was a stray who found himself in a high-kill shelter and nobody reclaimed him. He made friends with everyone he met at the shelter, but his time was up, so we knew we needed to give him a second chance at life. We’ll update as we get to know him better.”
Scooter, 10: “I was rescued from the side of the road by two wonderful women who asked City Dogs Rescue to help me find the pawfect forever home. I don’t like to think much about my past, but my rescuers were correct in assuming life wasn’t so great before they found me. They were also so surprised to see how unfazed I was by everything, and how good I was while being bathed and examined by the vet. But I know you can’t move forward by looking back, and I am so looking forward to having a loving home of my own. Some might call me old, but really, I am just mature and plan to stick around and live the good life I see before me. I may not be a puppy anymore, but I still know how to play with the best of them!”
Homeward Trails
Freckles, 8: “Freckles is one of the many dogs just rescued from a hoarding situation in rural Virginia. He has lived for many years in an outdoor only kennel, without proper shelter or any medical care. He had to withstand the hottest of summers and coldest of winters with nothing more than a cement floor in an 6 x 8 pen. But you would never guess this sweet boy has been neglected by his spirit. Though he has been starved for love and attention, he is gentle, friendly and absolutely loves being pet and loved on. Freckles does well with other dogs and walks nicely on leash.”
Honey and Bear. Via Homeward Trails.
Honey, 8, and Bear, 10: “Honey is absolutely adorable, spunky and very sweet. She and her brother, Bear, are a bonded pair. They were surrendered to a Baltimore high-kill shelter. Before they could be euthanized, Honey and Bear were rescued by HT and brought to the DC area to find a forever home.
They are friendly with people. Both Honey and Bear get along with other dogs. since they are so bonded, this sweet pair must be placed together. They need to find a new person or family with whom they can share their golden years.”
Max, 9: “Max is an affectionate and loving 9 year old Black Lab/Border Collie Mix. He has lots of energy to walk, run, and play, but is also content to lay around in rays of sun and near his people. He loves chewing on his bone, belly rubs, walks, and just being near his people. He is crate trained and lets you know when he needs to go outside. He walks well on a leash and obeys basic commands like sit, stay, down, paw (shaking hands), and high five.
Max is looking for a home where he can be the only dog so he can get all the love. He had some bad experiences when he was a puppy with other dogs which left him unsure and nervous around other dogs and also children. He has some doggie friends but is wary of strange dogs so needs a good introduction to new pups.”
O’Henry, 10: “O’Henry was surrendered by his owner to a local high-kill shelter. He is a loving, snuggle bug who likes to sit on laps. O’Henry gets along great with people and other dogs. He would be a perfect match for someone who needs a happy companion. Can you please give O’Henry his forever home? He will repay you with cuddles, kisses, and lots of love.”
Shirley, 8: “Shirley, the gorgeous 8 year old shepherd mix, had a rough start to life and came to us from a hoarding case. She is thriving in her foster home and LOVING her new life with new doggie & human friends. The world is still pretty scary to her but she is learning to trust her new friends and warms up very quickly with a few kinds words (and cookies help too!). She loves to get her head and ears rubbed as often as possible, along with a few snuggles. She has recently started to enjoy curling up on the couch with her family watching the TV in the evenings!”
Beaetta, 10: “Sweet Beaetta was a stray who was pulled from a kill shelter. Although she is blind, Beaetta is a very independent girl. She is a very happy, sassy little lap dog with a tail that never stops wagging. Beaetta loves everyone and likes to give kisses. She also likes to be held and cuddled. One of her favorite activities is being outside in the sunshine. Beaetta gets along with other dogs.”
Sunny, 8-9: “Sunny is a wonderful dog who is very loving. Sunny does fine with other dogs and might even prefer a calm one. Sunny does not like high-pitched shrieking noises so a home with adults or older kids – maybe 8+ – would be the best fit. Sunny enjoys walks and naps and doggie day care. Sunny would prefer a home where someone is home a lot. She will bark when left alone and her ideal family would live in a single family home rather than a townhome or apt./condo. If you are looking for a sweet girl to be a companion and friend – then sunny is your girl!”
K-9 Lifesavers
Coco. Via K-9 Lifesavers.
Coco, 10: “Poor little Coco has had a roller coaster past. Her original owners gave her to friends, then those ‘friends’ turned her over to a high kill shelter when she was 6. That’s when K-9 stepped in and rescued her before she was euthanized. She was adopted shortly after and has now ended up in our care, once again, 4 years later…10 years old and extremely overweight. She is a wonderful little girl. Coco is sweet, gentle, and a great lap dog. She is perfectly content following you around and cuddling up on the couch. She is an easy going dog, good with kids, good with other dogs, and we suspect good with cats. She cannot handle stairs due to her weight, but Coco is on a strict diet to get her weight back down to an acceptable number (which should be around 10 lbs). Coco clearly likes to go for walks, even tho it’s slow going.”
Sasha, 8: “Sasha is a lovely 8 years young lady looking for a great home! She was adopted from our rescue 5 years ago but her family is sadly having to find her a new forever home. Life is so unpredictable with many ups and downs! Sasha is a very smar…t, loving and easy going dog. Her family believes she would be a fantastic therapy or service dog. She’s gentle and always meets people with a happily wagging tail! Sasha lived in Hawaii for a year and traveled back and forth. She made the transport like a champ! In Hawaii she lived on a huge farm with other dogs and enjoyed herself tremendously. She is by nature a playful girl and people always mistake her for a young dog. If she has place to be let off the leash, her soul shines and shows so much joy. She just HAS to run as fast as she can! Many people who watched were touched seeing how much she just loves running! She needs that couple of minutes of running fast and then is the most relaxed and happy dog you can imagine. She is now already an elderly lady, but still runs when it is not too hot. Otherwise, she always knows where to find the coolest corner with the most shadow to relax and enjoy the nice day. Sasha is fully potty trained, crate trained (Although she doesn’t need it because she is perfectly behaved) and has always had free range with a doggie door.”
Lucky Dog
Andy, 7-8: “Meet Andy, a sweet-as-can-be, gentle hound mix; we think he is about 7-8 years old and weighs about 45-55 lbs. Poor Andy ended up in the shelter with another hound, Anne, and they were both emaciated and in pretty bad shape after being on their own for a while! Sadly, Anne did not make it, but we are trying hard to find a home for poor Andy so that the second half of his life is much, much better than the first!”
Friends of Homeless Animals
Ajax, 9: “I’m an adorable dachshund and miniature pincher mix that had a home for a while and am now back at FOHA. Even though FOHA is a great place, it is hard to for a guy like me to know that I once had a home and now I don’t. I’m house-trained, good on the leash and a nice size – about 15 pounds. I do have a preference for adults. If you’re looking for a sweet dog to keep you company, look no further! ”
Coconut, 7: “I bet you’ve been looking for a dog like me for awhile. You know, a cute terrier mix that is full of personality? Well, I’ve been looking for you, too. So I’m really glad we met. I’m only about 15 pounds. I’m not a lazy dog. I’m great on a leash and would love to accompany you on some jaunts through your neighborhood so that everyone can admire how great we look together. I would do best in a quiet home without small children. I also need an experienced dog owner. I’m ready to make this a permanent relation whenever you’re ready!”
Colby. Via FOHA.
Colby, 10: “Colby is my name, and I am a handsome, gentle male husky. The volunteers ooohhh and aaahhh over how handsome I am and they do go on about my cornflower blue eyes. Shucks. That’s nice and all, but what I really would like is for someone to say “I want to adopt him!” I am a stoic dog and not too revealing about my past but I’ll share a few things with you. I am a true sled dog, meaning I can pull like a Husky. But being the gentleman I am, I do try to take small steps on walks so that my human dog walkers can keep up with me. I also get fidgety when folks try to put the harness and collar on me. I don’t like to tell on people, but someone in my past was a little rough with the choke chain or pinch collar. I do mouth a bit (hey I’m a Husky) but I don’t mean a thing by it. Look ma, no teeth! I have met a couple other dogs and basically ignored them. If you want more information than that, you’ll just have to come out and meet me. Ask for Colby. You won’t be disappointed.”
Cyra, 8: “My name is Cyra and I was returned to FOHA (having been adopted in 2007) because I can be protective of my home environment. I can be very suspicious/panicky until I get to know you. In my home my favorite activities were looking out the windows and playing with my toys. I am a happy and social girl, gentle and polite. I know lots of basic commands such as Sit, Stay, Wait, and Stop. I am housetrained and really good on the leash. The volunteers here at FOHA love me and always tell me what a good girl I am. If you are an experienced dog owner, maybe I could be your good girl.”
Daisy, 8: “Sweet Daisy here! I’m a gorgeous, female, German Shepherd Dog. I love to go for walks and I’m good on a leash. Not sure how I how I ended up here.. I was too busy wagging my tail to notice. My Volunteer told me that I am beautiful, kind and fun. I have just the right amount of maturity and confidence to make a wonderful addition to your home! Come see me.. Oh.. one other thing about me, I have a permanent smile on my pretty face!”
Essyx, 13: “Essyx is a very sweet older girl, but unfortunately her owners decided that they did not have time for her, during her golden years… The way they got “rid of” her was to put her in a boarding facility and just left her there to be “dealt with” by someone else. How sad is that??? She gave them many many loyal years but when it came to them reciprocating Essyx was pushed to the side.”
Fin, 12: “Will you promise not to cry when you read my story? I hate it when people cry. It makes me sad. But I do have to admit that my tale is not a happy one. You see, my last family gave me up because they said — and these are their words — I’m “incredibly loyal.” I’m a collie mix, a member of the herding family. We were bred to love and protect our flock. As a collie, being loyal is the most important task in my life. Yet, here I am at 13 years of age being given back to FOHA after ten years because I’m too loyal and that I get upset when strangers enter the house unannounced. Hmmm, well, the last time I took Dog 101, we were taught that we were supposed to protect our homes from strangers!”
Hopper, 10: “Hopper is a friendly and affectionate boy who wants nothing more than to love and be loved. He loves to go for walks, but he is strong on the leash and will need someone who can teach him leash manners. He also loves to have you throw his special red toy so he can bring it back to you so you can throw it again. When you are done throwing the toy, he loves to sit beside/on you on the couch and cuddle.”
Lucky Girl, 12: “My name may be Lucky Girl, but whoever gets to bring me home will be the lucky one! I’m a sweet-as-can-be beauty, with long silky hair and a real pretty face. I’m also house-trained and know things like “Sit,” “Bed,” and “Come.” Although, most girls don’t like to tell people their age or weight, I’ll share with you that I’m a trim 21 pounds and a very spunky 10 years old. Please come see me soon. I think you’ll find me hard to resist.”
Mazie, 12: “Senior girls are the best! I am housetrained and still very lively and I do love to go on my walks. I lived with a family for ten years but they had to return me to FOHA recently. They said I am friendly with dogs and all people and never aggressive. I’m pretty sure I would do well in just about any home, maybe yours?”
Yoko, 10: “I’m a diva named Yoko. I’m all that and a bag of cheese puffs! I’m not a girly girl, all sugar and spice and everything nice, phooey! I’m more snips and snails an puppy dog tails. Yep, that’s how I roll! I’d prefer to be a one pet girl in this one pet town. Like most divas, not only am I breathtakingly beautiful, I’ve got the brains to go with it. I already know all of my commands and even went to a special school to learn them. And, if you adopt me, they’ll let you visit the school so you can learn all the tricks of how to care for your very own diva. I love going for walks and strutting all my stuff down the way, Sashay Chante! Watch me sizzle, oh yeah, talk to the paw, that’s what I’m talking about! Now you just come on down here to FOHA and check out the marvel that is moi!”
