🐾 Dog Raises Lost Fawn 💕

🐾 Dog Raises Fawn as His Own Pup

🐶 How to Adopt a Senior Pet 🐈

🥹 Meet ‘The Happiest Dog on Earth’

🎖️ Lotto Winner (at Bottom)

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^Heartwarmers
Dog Raises Lost Fawn
 

• Leo & Ludovica are an unlikely duo.

• Ludovica (Lu) was found alone in a woman named Juliane’s front yard. She was just a fawn, and it didn’t appear that her mother was coming back for her.

• So, Juliane & her dog Leo got closer and befriended the fawn, offering her food and water.

• Surprisingly, Leo looked at Lu as if she were his baby. And that relationship only grew and grew.

• As Lu grew, she became Leo’s best friend. Now, the two of them are an inseparable pair. Lu is a healthy adult who comes back to visit her chosen family and frolic with Leo on a regular basis.

How to Adopt a Senior Pet
^{In Honor of Adopt a Senior Pet Month}

Many people envision bringing a brand new puppy or kitten home when they think of adopting or buying a new pet. We’ve all been there.

What’s more snuggly and cute than a puppy or more playful and curious than a kitten? Answer: nothing.

Still, the playful youth of a new pet is only matched by the seasoned love and compassion of senior pets. Senior animals are overlooked at shelters.

They’ve often gone through a lot to end up where they are, and they’re consistently passed by as their younger counterparts are adopted into new homes. If you take a moment and think of the faces of the senior pets you’ve had in your life, you feel a level of love that only a trusted, long-time companion can give.

The senior animals in shelters are no different. They haven’t had the chance to give the love they have. So, if you’re considering adding a new pet to your life, consider making it a senior shelter animal.

The guide below may be common knowledge to many of you, but feel free to share it with a friend so that they can consider how easy it is to adopt a senior pet.

Here’s how to prepare & bring a senior shelter pet home:

Option 1 - Fostering to Adopt

Fostering to adopt gives you a little more time to see how the animal in question fits into your life. Here are the guidelines for taking this route. Fostering pets also takes a significant burden off of overcrowded shelters and rescue missions.

1. Research Foster Organizations

Look for reputable rescues or animal shelters with foster-to-adopt programs for senior pets. Check their policies, requirements, and resources. Reading reviews or talking to people who’ve adopted senior pets from these organizations can provide helpful insights.

2. Prepare Your Home and Family

Set up a comfortable, accessible space in your home tailored for a senior pet, whether it’s a dog or cat. Include a soft bed, food and water bowls, litter box (for cats), and any essentials. Discuss routines, rules, and responsibilities with family members to help ensure a smooth transition.

3. Meet Potential Foster Pets

Visit the shelter or rescue to meet senior dogs and cats that may be a good fit. Observe each animal’s temperament, energy level, and compatibility with your lifestyle. Senior pets are often calmer, making them easier to assess in terms of compatibility.

4. Complete Necessary Paperwork

Each organization has specific requirements, so be prepared to fill out adoption forms and provide references. Some rescues may require background checks or home ownership proof. Completing paperwork accurately can streamline the process.

5. Arrange a Home Visit (if Required)

Some organizations may conduct a home visit to ensure it’s a suitable environment for the pet. Be open to recommendations that can improve accessibility or comfort for senior dogs or cats.

6. Prepare for a Trial Period

Many foster-to-adopt programs offer a trial period where you and the pet can adjust to each other. Use this time to observe the pet’s behavior, energy level, and compatibility with your routine. Ensure the pet feels safe and comfortable in your home.

7. Transition the Pet with Patience

Moving to a new home can be overwhelming for a senior pet. Allow them time to adjust, establish a routine for feeding, exercise, and quiet time, and avoid overwhelming them with too many new experiences at once.

8. Finalize the Adoption

After the trial period, if the pet feels like a good fit, complete any final paperwork and pay any required fees. This step officially makes the senior dog or cat a permanent part of your family.

9. Provide Ongoing Support and Care

Senior pets often require regular vet visits, special diets, or medications. Stay mindful of their evolving needs and provide consistent care, patience, and love to ensure they thrive in their new home.

Option 2 - Adopting Directly

If you have experience with senior dogs and you find a perfect companion, you also have the option of adopting them without fostering.

1. Find Trusted Shelters and Rescues

Search for local shelters and rescue groups that prioritize senior pets or have resources specific to their care. Look into reviews and ask others about their adoption experiences to ensure the organization aligns with your values and needs.

2. Get Your Home and Family Ready

Prepare a cozy and accessible environment for a senior dog or cat. Set up a quiet area with a comfortable bed, easy access to food and water, and essentials like litter boxes for cats. Ensure family members understand the care routines and special attention a senior pet may need.

3. Meet Senior Pets and Assess Compatibility

Visit the shelter to interact with available senior dogs and cats. Take time to observe each pet’s personality, energy level, and comfort around people. Senior pets may have unique quirks and require special attention, so look for a pet whose temperament fits your lifestyle.

4. Fulfill the Adoption Requirements

Complete the shelter’s adoption application, which may involve references or a brief background check. Be thorough and prompt in providing any required documents, as some organizations have specific requirements for senior pet adoptions.

5. Prepare for a Possible Home Visit

Some rescues may request a home visit to ensure it’s a suitable space for a senior dog or cat. Accept any suggestions on making your home safer or more comfortable, such as adding ramps or non-slip rugs.

6. Plan for a Smooth Transition

Allow your new senior pet time to settle into their new surroundings. Senior pets may have established routines, so be gentle with changes, and introduce them gradually to their new environment and family members.

7. Offer Patience and Understanding

Adopting a senior pet often means adjusting to their pace. Be patient as they adapt to a new home and routine. Let them explore at their comfort level and offer a calm, predictable environment to ease their transition.

8. Finalize the Adoption Process

Once you’re confident in the match, complete any remaining paperwork and make the adoption official. This solidifies the senior pet as a permanent member of your family and allows them to feel secure in their new home.

9. Provide Specialized Care and Support

Senior pets may require specific health care, including regular vet visits, dietary adjustments, and sometimes medications. Commit to staying attuned to their needs and offering the love, patience, and gentle care they deserve in their later years.

^{Front Page Pets}
Long-Time Shelter Residents Adopted Together

• Reli & Boone, two dogs who were the longest-standing residents at the Greenville Humane Society, were adopted together last week.

• The family who put Reli up for adoption in the first place wrote a letter to the shelter which was shared on social media.

• That letter highlighted how great Reli was, and it gathered a lot of attention. When her adoption day came, the shelter suggested that she go home with her best friend Boone.

• Watch their heartwarming story below 💌

^{Pawternal Instincts}
Mother Dog Protects Her Babies

^{_{The Tail Wag Tribune}}
This Week’s Key Pet News

Stray Dog in Grand Canyon Crowned ‘Happiest Pet on Earth’

A woman hiking in the Grand Canyon came upon a pack of dogs who followed her in hopes of food scraps. The dogs were friendly, but the woman kept her distance until she locked eyes with one pup with a sunburnt nose and a strong affection for her.

The dog, who she later named Supai, clearly needed her, and the woman felt that their connection too strong to ignore. That was back in 2014, and Supai and the woman have been tied at the hip ever since.

Now, ten years later, Supai has been named “Happiest Pet on Earth” by Trusted House Sitters. As you can see, he sure looks like one of the happiest dogs around.

Community Rallies to Save Cat in Storm Drain

A man was on a walk earlier this month and heard a “weird noise” coming from a storm drain. He got closer and realized there was a cat stuck in there, calling out for help.

He called 911 and they attempted a rescue with no luck. The next day, they came back for another attempt when it started to rain, posing an extreme risk for the cat.

With a few clever tricks, they were able to tempt the cat towards the opening of the storm drain, and the man who initially heard the cat was the one to go in there and pull the helpless kitty out. Read the whole story below.

Rescue Dog Trained in “Bed Bug Detection”

Is there anything dogs can’t do?

2-year-old Daisy is a rescue dog that has been highly trained in the art of detecting bed bugs. She’s finally going to work in Toms River, New Jersey and her ability to detect pesky bed bugs will no doubt help thousands of people sleep easier and live in peace.

Bed bugs can be hard to detect, which is what makes them such a challenge for many households. Daisy will solve all of that, entering homes and detecting even the faintest trail of bed bugs with a high level of accuracy.

Didn’t know this was possible? Read more about Daisy and her story by clicking below.