Many of our residents are owner surrenders. We take in shelter dogs, but since we run full most of the time, we have to “wait list” dogs and it’s hard to anticipate when a spot will open due to adoption or, more often here at Mureille’s Place, when a dog passes away. Shelters sometimes wait for us, but not usually. Space and time are at a premium.
A fair amount of the dogs we take in are from the family of owner’s who passed and didn’t have a plan in place for their dog. We kind of can’t blame them for not wanting to take Aunt Lucy’s incontinent and blind 15 yr old poodle. Not everyone is going to see it as an honor to care for your pet. Of course we think senior dogs are wonderful, but we know they can be alot of work. If you travel or have a demanding job, it can be a burden to care for them properly… especially if a senior is dropped into your life unexpectedly.
This is why we urge all pet owners, no matter what age you are or what age your pet is….Have a plan in place in case you die or become disabled unexpectedly. It is also a good idea to have some money set aside to help care for your pet. It might also help someone to agree to take your pet since it won’t be a financial burden. If you need help planning, we can certainly assist you and/or answer any questions you might have.
You can hope it never happens to you, and 9 times out of 10 it won’t, but you will have peace of mind that if it does, you were prepared. Your pets will thank you. So will your cousin Bob. He’s really more of a bird kind of guy. Dog Bless….Barbara
