Duo need a new home
FAMILIES looking to take on a new pet have been urged to consider taking on an older dog by a rescue centre in Loughborough.
Dogs Trust Loughborough has appealed to would-be owners thinking about adopting a puppy to also have a look at taking home a golden oldie.
The trust currently has two 10-year-old Shar Pei brothers, Mack and Ted, who are hoping to find their perfect retirement home.
Celine Di Crocco, manager at Dogs Trust Loughborough, said: “Mack and Ted have lived together all their lives and have come to us after a change in their family’s circumstances meant they could no longer keep them.
“They are living with one of our brilliant foster carers and are loving life, but we really want to find them a forever home of their own together.
“They are really relaxed and both love to head out on a walk.
“Mack is more confident and likes to show off a few tricks for a tasty treat, whereas Ted is a little more reserved and likes to take a bit more time to get to know you.
“They would really suit a family with older teenagers and as they’ve proven in their foster home, it really won’t take them long to settle in.”
Since the first coronavirus lockdown began, demand for puppies has soared, with Google searches for buying a puppy more than doubling since March 2020.
In the nine months up to the end of March this year, almost half of people looking to adopt a dog from Dogs Trust Loughborough were looking for a four-legged friend under six months old, compared to just five per cent looking for a dog aged eight or over.
Ms Di Crocco said:
“In the last year so many people have wanted to welcome a puppy into their family, but older dogs like Mack and Ted make fantastic companions too.
“Older dogs are often calmer and less energetic so although they may still be playful and enjoy a stroll in the park, hiking up hills may be a thing of the past for them, which suits some owners, young and old.
“Also with an older dog, what you see is what you get both in terms of personality and size and although you can certainly teach an older dog new tricks, they usually know the training basics and have experienced many things in their lives, so as long as they have had positive experiences, they will take things in their stride.
“Helping older dogs like Mack and Ted enjoy their autumnal years and giving them the chance to live their best life is incredibly rewarding.
“We would urge anyone looking to welcome a dog into their life to consider giving a golden oldie their forever home where they can relax and rest their paws in their twilight years.”
You can find out more about Dog Trust Loughborough’s work with older dogs on the group’s website.