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e all know the reaction puppies get from us. We revert to behavior like a child with a lollipop. “He’s so cute!” we gush. “Look at her face!” “So tiny!” The accolades seem never-ending for the newto-the-world creatures. But, what about the ones past their prime, beyond the fuzzy fur phase? Often times adoptable older dogs are passed over, if seen at all, due to negative, preconceived thoughts. Why is it important for people to consider adopting an older dog? If Jenny Rossi had her way, all senior dogs would find their people. I first met Jenny Rossi one early Sunday morning at the Chittenden County Humane Society where she arrived with enthusiasm. She was ready to tackle her first morning animal care (MAC) shift. The guinea pig enclosures needed to be disinfected, the cats were howling for breakfast all the while the bunnies lounged without a care in the world. Our volunteer MAC team quickly settled into an efficient routine. After all the litter boxes were cleaned, meals served and floors mopped, it was time to get hands on with the current guests. It was during this play time, that we became friends and I discovered her love for senior dogs. I wasn’t surprised when, in addition to her regular tasks, she took the initiative to be officially trained on proper dog-walking protocols. This skill allowed her access the canine wing where she and a dog available for adoption could harness up and spend time freely playing in the grassy yard or walking together. Jenny gravitated towards the more mature crowd, the-gray on-themuzzle type. To simply recognize that Jenny is passionate about older canines is a gigantic understatement. Her merry blue eyes become teary when she chats about this topic––a topic she knows well as Emma and Tucker, her adopted, bonded seniors, can attest to.
ADOPTING A SENIOR DOG Karen Sturtevant
Tucker & Emma
loyal. Emma is subtle in her affection pinning Tucker while cleaning his ears or quietly laying on her beloved stuffed horse. She can also be rambunctious in her play encouraging Tucker to zoom around the yard full speed while Tucker is more apt to take his sweet canine time. “Gentleman Tuck” or “Sunshine Boy” as he’s sometimes called, loves people, the socialite of the two. Emma’s raring to go once the morning alarm rings announcing so with clicking of her teeth and shaking the tags on her collar; Tucker wants his snuggle time. “The great thing about seniors is that they’re learning their personalities and you’re learning theirs.” “Watching two bonded seniors love each other is such a journey. Just as people love people in different ways, Emma and Tucker animals love animals in different ways. Emma and Tucker’s first days were bleak. I don’t think people realize there is so Discovered abandoned in a wooded area much nuance. I’m learning new things in the South, the person who found them every day.” decided to keep and raise them. They were safe and best of all, together. Seven years Why senior dogs? There are numerous reasons senior dogs would pass, then, due to unforeseen circumstances, the dogs would be surrendered to find themselves in need of new homes– a shelter and find their way to Vermont. some legitimate, others are due to the Jenny, seeking a multi-dog household with selfish nature or lack of knowledge of a soft spot for seniors, adopted them with- their owners. When a senior finds herout hesitation. self in a shelter, she’s often confused “Their personalities are wildly differ- and scared—not understanding why her ent. Emma is courageous but wary. She safe, familiar world is suddenly gone. doesn’t like car rides. She’ll pant and Our society tends to stigmatize the Tucker will lick her face,” as if to com- elderly: they’re slow, they don’t underfort her. She took the longest to open us stand, can’t hear or see well, have health and trust, due to her being so fiercely problems. The f lip side is these indiWinter 2022
viduals bring a library of knowledge, a lifespan of participation, a gift that is rewarded only with passing years. Senior dogs are in the same category. “They’ve already accumulated a lifetime of experiences. There’s an important sacredness around that,” comments Jenny. “The only bad luck they’ve had is to live longer. They survived in a human world and have had the back luck to get old. It’s an honor and a service to have a senior in your household. It’s such a calling to home a senior.” What you see is what you get. How many times have you heard an owner of an adopted puppy comment that it’s not what they were looking for? Shelter puppies have mystery pasts. Perhaps the breed of the mother is known, but not the father. What arrived as a small dog, grows into an extralarge breed. What was a typical activity level for a twelve-week-old puppy grew into a dog requiring hours of physical activity to release energy each day. With seniors, you know what you’re getting, their personalities are already developed. Seniors arrive with a autobiography and fully-formed characteristics. Training, habits, triggers, reactions to other animals and behavior challenges have already been established. Instead of beginning on page one for training, new owners can meet the dog where he is to build upon already-established skills. Jenny uses this opportunity to increase the human/animal bond. Working with a professional trainer, Emma and Tucker have made great strides from leash walking to dog reactivity. “Training is repetitive and frustrating, but the end result is that you’ve built a foundation block together. It’s really great for the relationship.” Not only is Jenny well-versed in her dogs’ emotional and physical needs, she continue to educate herself in other topics related to canines. She recommends the following podcasts: Libby Felts and Emily Wolf https://www.podtotherescue.com Dogspeak by Nikki Ivey https://dogspeak101.com/podcast/ Bitey End of the Dog by Michael Shikashio https://aggressivedog.com/ podcasts/ My enrichment bible: Canine Enrichment for the Real World https://www.dogwise.com/canineenrichment-for-the-real-world/ Continued Next Page
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