Yours Australia — Issue 97 2017

TEXT:MARKBROOK*RSPCAREPORTONANIMAL SHELTERS, CARE AND ADOPTION CENTRES 2015-16* PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES

animal shelters across

the country each year* and many of

them are destroyed because there just

aren’t enough new homes for them.

Among the most common reasons

for older pets ending up in shelters are

problem behaviour and a change of

mind, but it also happens when owners

die or go into care.

Dr Walker says about 7 per cent

of the dogs and cats RSPCA Victoria

rehomes each year are seniors, and there

house-trained and can

ollow basic commands.

“Whether it’s having

a Sunday sleep-in on

he bed or a frolic in the

park, senior animals

have years of love, life and devotion to

give very lucky owners,” Dr Walker says.

Having an animal companion is also

proven to be a boon for owners’ health

after 50. So if you’re thinking of getting

a pet, make it a senior dog and give you

and your canine a new lease of life.

aGood homes wanted

The facts are confronting: more than

a million animals end up at RSPCA

GOOD TO KNOW

Dr Liz Walker

Vet and RSPCA

Victoria CEO

Roman Deguchi

Neighbour Aid Pets

advocate

senior dog?

You’ll grow old together

• in the knowledge you’ve
  saved a pooch’s life

HAPPY HOME

John and Marilyn

loved having Taya

h

fo

a

th

p h g p a a a a

Th

a

W

hen Marilyn Harrison, 66,

and her husband, John, 67,

decided to get a dog, they

didn’t want the hassle of

training a boisterous puppy.

“When our previous dog died, we

vowed we’d never get another dog –

I think that lasted six months,” Marilyn

recalls. “There was a hole in our lives

because we were so used to having

a dog around, but we weren’t looking

for an active, chewy puppy that

needed toilet training.”

After visiting various animal shelters,

the couple found their “pawfect”

companion, loveable nine-year-old

golden retriever Taya, adopted from

the Golden Retriever Rescue Club.

Veterinarian and RSPCA Victoria

CEO Dr Liz Walker says

while the majority of

potential dog owners

prefer puppies,

adopting a dog

of Taya’s vintage

is a terrific way

to give a happy

home to an animal

with many good

years ahead. Plus,

older dogs are

usually