Ahmedabad: In March 2022, Grandpa, a Great Dane who guarded a Gaushala, was rescued with a gaping wound on his paws. He was brought to Ahmedabad-based rescuers, by the managers of a local Gaushala where he was kept as a guard dog but with sheer disregard for his health. He had lost three fingers on his hind limbs and being 6.5 already, it took him a while to recover.Today, Grandpa is rechristened Louis and is happily living life king size during his second inning, with content professional, Keerthana Roy.
“My sister and I grew up with dogs. So when we lost our dog, we decided to adopt one more. The moment we got to know about Louis, it melted our heart, and we got him home. Nobody is perfect, neither humans nor dogs. So why shouldn’t a dog be adopted just because one is old or has a condition. We have rechristened him as Louis. Despite his size, he is a perfect lap dog,” said Roy who recently moved to Bengaluru.
“After Louis, we also brought home another dog – Yuka – a Siberian Husky – who is blind and has epilepsy. He has to be kept on a meat-based diet and his medication is regularly administered. In fact, our senior dog Louis always indicates it to us when Luka is about to have an epilepsy attack,” she added.
At a time when social media influences the trend of pet adoption, the chances of senior dogs (typically aged 6.5-7 and above) getting adopted are often slimmer. More so when they come with lifelong health ailments and are rescues. But thanks to a few good Samaritans, a few of these cruelty- and age-affected dogs rescued from the state, are living their retired life to the fullest and in good care.
Another example is an English Mastiff Meatball, who was kept with a breeder for years and when rescued, it had a huge maggot wound on her tail. After rehabilitating for about a year, Meatball was adopted by a Vadodara-based couple.
“English Mastiffs usually live anywhere between 7 and 9 years. Meatball is about to turn 7 and already has a heart condition and a mild spondylitis, which is being managed with diet and medication. I had fostered her for a couple of days when she was being sent to Bengaluru for finding a home for her. But for a while she didn’t find a home and that’s when we decided to bring her home,” said Vadodara-resident Jayna Ravi (name changed).
According to experts, at a time when an increasing number of people are looking to bring home dogs, the awareness and inclination is much less about adopting senior dogs because they’re often seen as a liability.
“Our mission is to encourage people who have the means and resources to consider adopting old dogs because they’re as loving companions as younger ones. The ones we rescued came in deplorable and horrific conditions with maggot wounds, discarded and mistreated by breeders and previous owners, with chronic health conditions. But after rehabilitating them with the right medical care and compassion, they’re as loving and playful pets as any others so why not adopt them. None of us come with expiry dates so why should we treat dogs that way,” said Richa Singh, founder, Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation (BSDIF).
The organisation has also facilitated adoption of dogs as old as eight and 14 years in age have also been adopted by people here.
For instance, Meemaw, a 14-year-old Dalmatian, was pregnant when she was rescued (age 13 then), had a heart condition and was tied outside an ice cream parlour, and later taken to BSDIF team.
“When we found her, she barely had nine or 10 teeth and one finger in her hind limb was missing. Meemaw was pregnant but given her age (then 13), it was a health risk for her health and that’s why we had to terminate her pregnancy. The idea was to save her life, get her in the best of shape and then rehome her where she can spend her life in love and care, just like a young pup would,” said Charvi Salil, core committee member, BSDIF.
Meemaw found a home at Shreya Mukherjee’s residence, where she now lives.
“As a child I always grew up amidst dogs rescued and sheltered at my place. Ever since I lost my Labrador dog five years ago, I wanted to adopt another and that’s when Meemaw happened in April last year. Despite her age, she is so active and playful. I go to work for about 10 hours in a day and she is alone at home yet so calm and quiet. She has a heart enlargement issue but is managed well with medicines and she is my perfect pet companion at home,” Shreya said.
Similarly, 8-year-old beagle, Coco, was about to be put down due to a chronic skin condition.
“He has been through a lot. I always wanted a second dog in the house apart from my Rottweiler, Maximus, and when I saw Coco, he seemed to be the perfect choice. When you adopt a senior dog, it’s important to know one’s history and medical condition and also the trauma the dog has gone through so that he can be kept in appropriate care. Coco has thyroid, an enlarged heart and his skin condition is currently managed with medication. But we’re doing well. He is given medication everyday just like any human patient and is so healthy that he goes on treks with me. All I’m trying is to provide him with a comfortable and relaxed life,” said Jinang Salot, a businessman.
“My sister and I grew up with dogs. So when we lost our dog, we decided to adopt one more. The moment we got to know about Louis, it melted our heart, and we got him home. Nobody is perfect, neither humans nor dogs. So why shouldn’t a dog be adopted just because one is old or has a condition. We have rechristened him as Louis. Despite his size, he is a perfect lap dog,” said Roy who recently moved to Bengaluru.
“After Louis, we also brought home another dog – Yuka – a Siberian Husky – who is blind and has epilepsy. He has to be kept on a meat-based diet and his medication is regularly administered. In fact, our senior dog Louis always indicates it to us when Luka is about to have an epilepsy attack,” she added.
At a time when social media influences the trend of pet adoption, the chances of senior dogs (typically aged 6.5-7 and above) getting adopted are often slimmer. More so when they come with lifelong health ailments and are rescues. But thanks to a few good Samaritans, a few of these cruelty- and age-affected dogs rescued from the state, are living their retired life to the fullest and in good care.
Another example is an English Mastiff Meatball, who was kept with a breeder for years and when rescued, it had a huge maggot wound on her tail. After rehabilitating for about a year, Meatball was adopted by a Vadodara-based couple.
“English Mastiffs usually live anywhere between 7 and 9 years. Meatball is about to turn 7 and already has a heart condition and a mild spondylitis, which is being managed with diet and medication. I had fostered her for a couple of days when she was being sent to Bengaluru for finding a home for her. But for a while she didn’t find a home and that’s when we decided to bring her home,” said Vadodara-resident Jayna Ravi (name changed).
According to experts, at a time when an increasing number of people are looking to bring home dogs, the awareness and inclination is much less about adopting senior dogs because they’re often seen as a liability.
“Our mission is to encourage people who have the means and resources to consider adopting old dogs because they’re as loving companions as younger ones. The ones we rescued came in deplorable and horrific conditions with maggot wounds, discarded and mistreated by breeders and previous owners, with chronic health conditions. But after rehabilitating them with the right medical care and compassion, they’re as loving and playful pets as any others so why not adopt them. None of us come with expiry dates so why should we treat dogs that way,” said Richa Singh, founder, Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation (BSDIF).
The organisation has also facilitated adoption of dogs as old as eight and 14 years in age have also been adopted by people here.
For instance, Meemaw, a 14-year-old Dalmatian, was pregnant when she was rescued (age 13 then), had a heart condition and was tied outside an ice cream parlour, and later taken to BSDIF team.
“When we found her, she barely had nine or 10 teeth and one finger in her hind limb was missing. Meemaw was pregnant but given her age (then 13), it was a health risk for her health and that’s why we had to terminate her pregnancy. The idea was to save her life, get her in the best of shape and then rehome her where she can spend her life in love and care, just like a young pup would,” said Charvi Salil, core committee member, BSDIF.
Meemaw found a home at Shreya Mukherjee’s residence, where she now lives.
“As a child I always grew up amidst dogs rescued and sheltered at my place. Ever since I lost my Labrador dog five years ago, I wanted to adopt another and that’s when Meemaw happened in April last year. Despite her age, she is so active and playful. I go to work for about 10 hours in a day and she is alone at home yet so calm and quiet. She has a heart enlargement issue but is managed well with medicines and she is my perfect pet companion at home,” Shreya said.
Similarly, 8-year-old beagle, Coco, was about to be put down due to a chronic skin condition.
“He has been through a lot. I always wanted a second dog in the house apart from my Rottweiler, Maximus, and when I saw Coco, he seemed to be the perfect choice. When you adopt a senior dog, it’s important to know one’s history and medical condition and also the trauma the dog has gone through so that he can be kept in appropriate care. Coco has thyroid, an enlarged heart and his skin condition is currently managed with medication. But we’re doing well. He is given medication everyday just like any human patient and is so healthy that he goes on treks with me. All I’m trying is to provide him with a comfortable and relaxed life,” said Jinang Salot, a businessman.