Rescue Tails / THEY NEED US AND WE NEED THEM!

Dogs and humans have been co-evolving for thousands of years. According to DNA studies, dogs may have been the first domesticated species. For many of us, dogs have become our closest companions. We depend on them, and they depend on us. In most cases, our relationships are a win-win for both species. Those connections can run deep, often deeper than we realize until one faces the loss of the other.

When adopters come to the Florida Keys SPCA looking to adopt a dog, they usually have a size, breed type, and age in mind. But because our hearts don’t always listen to our heads and we fall in love unexpectedly, people sometimes walk out the door with a dog totally unlike what they came looking for. Those adoptions are always delightful surprises! But even more gratifying are the adoptions of senior animals, those less likely to find homes.

Richard is one of those special humans with a big heart for old dogs. Moo was the first senior he adopted from us back in the fall of 2023. Moo was over 10 years old in the spring of 2023 when his original owner was forced to surrender him because her own health issues made caring for him impossible. We were grateful we could be there for both of them!

When Richard met Moo, the sweetness of this white Staffie mix won him over immediately. Unfortunately, their time together was short. Richard gave Moo ten wonderful months of care, comfort, and love; everything a dog deserves. Holding back tears, Richard came to the shelter to let us know he had to say goodbye to Moo when Moo’s health suddenly declined. While making that decision is one of the hardest for a pet owner, it can be the ultimate kindness to one you love.

For some, the pain of losing a friend is too much. But Richard not only has a good heart; he has a strong heart! He was able to recognize what he gave to Moo and what Moo gave back to him.  He felt he wanted and needed to do it again for another dog and for himself.  Enter Kane! We got this happy-go-lucky 10-year-old tan terrier mix when his owner had to leave the area. When Kane entered the room with his big doggie smile and non-stop wagging tail to meet Richard, he sold himself. Richard never looked back! Kane found a new home and Richard found a new friend. Every update and picture Richard shares tells us the match was a good one.

There are two ways of looking at this story. One might be as a cautionary tale about the potential emotional risks of adopting an older dog since the future may be more uncertain. But instead, what if we consider that any time we can offer safety, comfort, and love to an animal, whether it’s for months or years, it’s a generous and life-changing gift to that animal and to ourselves? That can be a worthy goal.

The Florida Keys SPCA is an open-admission shelter, meaning we take animals of all ages, health, and temperament and do our best to responsibly place them in good homes. Unfortunately we get our share of senior cats and dogs in need of new homes. If you are considering opening your heart and home to a senior, we hope you will come see us at both our Marathon and Key West shelters. We have some animals in our Golden Paw program with adoption fees waived. Check out our website www.fkspca.org for more information on the Golden Paw program and current available animals.