If you are over 75, have had pets all your life,
By dianebulley
12 comments
you have a wealth of experience and knowledge that would give a happy future to a dog or cat that has been unwanted, ill treated, starved etc.
Rescue Centres are full of them.
But, and its a big but – they have ways of knowing an
applicant’s date of birth.(I would be interested to know where they find this ?.)
They also have a list of excuses why the application is refused. Wrong temperament, behavioural difficulties etc. It has upset many people, including me.
The real reason for refusing is the applicant’ s age, that his/her life will be shorter than the animal’s life expectancy. They do this in the best interests of the animal.
After publishing hundreds of photographs of pets needing a new home on their galleries, they dish out the ‘shove off’ routine, which is very upsetting.
I now realise a man I know aged 82, who had major heart surgery when 80 and is still on the ‘at risk’ list found out about this. He got his son and daughter in law to do all the applying procedure at a Rescue Centre, with the home inspection at their address. They were then allowed to have a very nice little dog, which they passed on to Dad. It has enhanced his life, he loves his little dog, he is happy again.
It can be done.
8 Oct, 2016
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Comments
I was going to suggest Eirlys's solution - ask for an old cat.
8 Oct, 2016
Eirlys, I can understand about hedges. When I moved to Pembury into the house that hubby had, I brought with me my 2 springers. Hubby's garden had hedges one side and both springers would push through them into next doors garden. We had to quickly put up a wire fence along the bottom of it to keep them from getting through. Our cats have always been rescues but hubby and I was only saying the other day that we don't think they would allow us one here due to our road being so busy.
8 Oct, 2016
I was asked about the road too but we live in a quiet country culdesac with fields at the back.
I can't remember if I was asked my age.
I know they are not keen on having animals returned to them because they are so full.
I have a friend who volunteers in the RSPCA and she often sais a cat has been returned because the owner has died, but young people can also die.
I do agree than an elderly person could have an elderly cat/dog :)
8 Oct, 2016
Thank you all for your comments. I feel better now the subject has been brought out into the fresh air.
Its so upsetting to choose a cat of the right age from their gallery, make ones home ready for it, arrange collection etc. and then get the 'shove off.'
I have offered to be a Cat foster carer free of charge for
the RSPCA which means looking after cats who have been ill treated, or strays, which I would like to do.
Will see what happens.
9 Oct, 2016
Hi Diane, it makes you sick doesn't it, it isn't a child you want to give a home to, just a dog or cat, god luck with our offer of help, Derek.
9 Oct, 2016
I can see their point but, I think they should assess each case on its merits and try to find a suitable outcome for all prospective owners and animals.
9 Oct, 2016
I have now found that foster carers for animals over the age of 70 are welcome. Have registered with RSPCA
to care for unwanted, ill treated, or injured cats in my warm and cosy flat. Have brought in a large plastic tray for the Catsan litter. It previously had plants in so smells of 'garden' which should help a cat to know what its for !
I dont mind servicing it. There are worse jobs in hospitals.
9 Oct, 2016
It will enjoy watching the gerbils...
9 Oct, 2016
Squeak had been tipping the running wheel over for a year.
I was tired of picking it up again, and for a long time now have put it into the tank on Saturdays only. If she tips it over I take it out until next Saturday.
Now she has suddenly decided to use it.
I bought a new one for Bubble but leave it in the cupboard.
They have little brains. Hard to understand them.
They both love their Coconut shells. Take their food from the food bowl over to eat in the shells, then run back to get some more.
As long as they are happy I am happy.
10 Oct, 2016
Diane maybe have a look at the Cinnamon Trust. It is a national charity for elderly and terminally ill people and their pets and they often need to rehome animals. They don't seem to care about age. Same with the Oldies Club, they need foster carers and/or permanent homes. That's where my Charlie dog came from.
11 Oct, 2016
Hywel, our daughter has said she will have the cat if anything happens to us!
Diane, I had no idea that there were foster "parents" for cats. What happens if you fall in love with one/all of them?
11 Oct, 2016
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Well the CPL let us have our cat, Diane. We made it clear that we wanted an "old cat" as we are old, and that's what we have, Sage who is 12. Odd name but she came with it so we have kept it though she does not seem to recognise it at all.
Our neighbour when in her late fifties had trouble adopting a dog. They wanted her garden completely fenced in even though she has hedges and a Nature Reserve all around . She had to buy a puppy from a breeder in the end. We couldn't believe it!
8 Oct, 2016