(CBS DETROIT) – When Grand Papa was brought to the River Rouge Animal Shelter last week, he was suffering from a neurological condition that caused him to drag one of his paws and was positive for heartworm.
Shelter manager Patty Trevino said the senior husky, who was at least 12 years old, was wandering around southwest Detroit. Trevino said she saw a post on social media about the dog and quickly responded.
“I knew I wanted to help him. I thought a lot of other people would too,” Trevino told CBS News Detroit. “I just said, ‘If no one else wants to take him, we’ll take him to River Rouge. And the next day people said, ‘Are you going to take him? Are you going to take him?’ and I thought, I don’t think anyone will take him. I said, ‘Yes, we have a place. We’ll take him.’ I had every confidence that someone would stand up for him.”
Courtesy of River Rouge Animal Shelter
Trevino said Grandpa’s right hind leg wasn’t moving properly, and he had trouble going to the bathroom. They took him to the animal hospital, where they learned his right paw was bleeding from dragging him, and he tested positive for heartworm.
Trevino said they decided not to give the dog any medical treatments given his age, and instead hoped to find him a home where he could live out his days. To raise awareness, the shelter posted messages on social media asking everyone to bring the dog. dog in the house.
She said they had received several responses from people offering to take him; however, she was picky about where he would go.
“I wanted someone I was familiar with, or someone I’m familiar with who could vouch for him as a solid, sensible person,” Trevino said.
Trevino said a woman named Lauren, who helped with a dog that had cancer 10 years ago, offered to take care of him. After much consideration. Trevino agreed to let the dog go with Lauren.
Thanks to Lauren, grandfather’s foster parent
Research shows that older dogs are difficult to adopt
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, older dogs have a 25% adoption rate, compared to a 60% adoption rate for younger dogs and puppies.
A National Library of Medicine survey found that many people avoid adopting or caring for older pets due to medical and behavioral issues. Due to the lack of adoptions, they are at greater risk of euthanasia.
“Additional studies indicate that the likelihood of a dog or cat being adopted decreases significantly as the animal ages, due to high competition in the kennel against animals that have more ‘desirable’ traits. In addition, older animals are more likely to be adopted after adoption be returned,” the study said.
Trevino said Grand Papa’s story is another example of the importance of foster care and adopting older pets. When Grand Papa was brought to River Rouge, he was the only older dog in the shelter.
Trevino said they often see older dogs brought into the shelter, but they also see people coming to adopt or foster them. She said older pets do come with some challenges, but caring for them is worth it.
“I don’t think there’s anything more satisfying than having an older dog and taking care of it, or an older cat or a senior person. It’s very rewarding,” she said. “There’s something very special when you look at their faces, look at their eyes and try to imagine them being young.”
Where is grandpa now?
In the last week since being taken in by Lauren, Trevino said Grand Papa seems to be a different dog after getting a bath and taking some pain medicine. The shelter shared a video of the dog on its Facebook page.
Lauren was unavailable for an interview at the time this article was published, but shared photos of the dog with Trevino, including a new dog tag that reads, “I am loved.”
Trevino credited Lauren and the volunteers with the rescue effort.
“I think he still has some quality time left, and it makes me feel really good to see everyone so happy and to see him clean,” she said. “It was like he was a new dog.
Thanks to Lauren, grandfather’s foster parent
