My last dog or cat?

Some kind and wonderful suggestions regarding the practicalities of companionship, exercise etc but the underlying point is of course the question of how "long" any of us has got "left"!
Nobody likes to put a figure to that do they? Even the most hard headed of us I suspect would prefer to be suitably vague on the matter so when you start weighing up the nitty gritty of an animal's relative lifespan, the specifics can be a wake up call.
Not being depressing of course

As I said upthread, we are looking for a new kitten and we certainly don't consider being 68 and almost 72 as too old to be taking on that responsibility. No-one knows what the future holds.

Thank you Wot. Maybe I'll reconsider.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201705/medium-937624-img-1273.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201705/medium-21658-img-0199.jpg

If you are looking for a dog that does not need a lot of exercise, I can always recommend greyhounds - well I would wouldn't I?
They can be "retired" as young as 4 and unlike some rescue dogs there is usually just that one reason for being rehomed (not behaviour issues) they need a couple of 10-15 minute walks a day and are not called 40 mph couch potatoes for nothing!
Our three all came to us "clean in their kennel" I.e.house trained and they are very biddable, elegant dogs, so grateful for human affection. Can be safe with cats too.
Oh dear, end of commercial!!

Yes, they are lovely dogs with a beautiful temperament.

I've been away to only just read your thread MawBroon. Our old rescue dog died 4 years ago and we still miss him, despite having two other dogs.
I can't imagine life without dogs, having only ever spent 3 years since being a child, living in a home without a dog.
I have fostered dogs but it is not a straight forward thing to do when you have other caring responsibilities. It isn't easy to assess how any foster will respond to young children in the house. Many arrive because they have 'issues' that their original owners couldn't manage.
There are many dogs between say 5 and 7 years old looking for adopters or long term foster homes. Not all dogs in rescue have problem behaviours, many arrive because their owners have health problems or other life events that mean they are unable to continue to care for a dog they have loved very much.
Something will happen to help you resolve this - it'll take time x

You had 3! Like second son -they took in 3 retired greyhounds into their tiny little house. They both worked, and I thought , those poor dogs, on their own all day. But no problem, the dogs spent the day asleep, then son took them out in the evening.
When they decided to move to India they managed to find homes for them. We took one (Twiggy) and he was no trouble, but after a while the heat here got to him and he died

maw I know exactly how you feel. I lost my beloved cat last August and couldn't bear to think about another one at the time.

Now a friend has asked if I would consider taking on her daughter's cat, and I realised that although I still very much miss having a cat, and Fudge in particular, it has been nice not to have to consider care arrangements before going away for a day or two, and also not being 'pinned to the spot' by having a cat immediately jump up onto my lap!

I know after a while you will be clearer as to what is best for you, as other posters have said. My heart bleeds for you now.

I didn't have 3 all at once, Tricia!! You wouldn't have been able to turn round in the house.
Our first was 22 years ago when we lost our 16 year old black lab. He was a beautiful fawn boy (big) was succeeded by a very laid back brindle bitch, I used to refer to her as a "whatever" dog, nothing fazed her. And then 9 years ago, Grace came into our lives. Initially very wary of other dogs and terrified of collies, but settling quickly into her new home.
I do know people who have two..... I hope they have capacious sofas.

I think it's the garden companion I would miss. When DD2 married we kept her Jack Russell as their house was on a busy main road. After a while she decided to have the dog back to 'see how things went.' It was the first time we had been without a dog. The house was spotless!!

It was outside I felt lost. Why go for a walk when there's no dog? No dog at my heels when I shut up the chickens, no dog lazing in the sun by the back door, no dog getting under my feet in the garden.

Fortunately, DD gave up after a month. The road was too scary and Nattie missed the great outdoors and upset the neighbours by constantly yapping. Clever dog

When Millie, who is nearly ten, goes we won't replace her and if Peggy lives to be a ripe old age as terriers often do, we'll be too old to cope with another one anyway.

That's if we make it that far

I have my lovely Leo who I got via Gumtree when I was70. I am 77 now he is 8. I lasted 6 weeks between my little Ben dying and getting Leo. He has been a life saver for me as I lost my only relative, my brother in 2010 also. I am fit and lucky to have someone who looks after him when I am away on holiday.

Leo is a very attractive, what breed is he? I believe dogs are life savers for many of us

Leo - what a sweetie.

I thought of you MawBroon when this came up on my FB today.

www.edp24.co.uk/news/charity-norfolk-greyhound-rescue-pleads-for-help-re-homing-neglected-irish-dogs-1-5015553

Leo is such a cutie, looks a bit like my yorkie/Fox terrier cross.

I've been thinking about your last post, MawBroon. It would be very sad for the poor animal if both owners died and he/she was left alone. Or if one dies and the other is disabled in some way.
More likely to happen to cats than dogs as they have a longer lifespan.

ps not your last post, but the one on Mon. at 7.20 am.

Tricia - you mention the sad possibility of animal being left alone if both owners die, or can't continue looking after the animal.

In the case of cats, it's possible to register them with Cats Protection under their Cats Guardian scheme, and then mention it in your will. It can give some peace of mind. They always find homes for the cats - they never "put them down" unless there are genuine medical reasons.

www.cats.org.uk/get-involved/support-us/cat-guardians/faq-cat-guardians

my friend a rescue dog aged about 11 yrs died yesterday morning, I am at the moment very upset, I am 84 yrs old so, I must have been about 70 when Mac came into my life, I wouldn't have had all the pleasure that he gave me and now I am completely lost. But I don't remember thinking too long about it, it sort of happened. My poor husband had gone into care with Dementia and Mac was at our Rescue centre he needed a home and I badly needed someone to love. So, who can know what the future holds Maw maybe sometimes we just jump in at a particular moment in life and in my case it was a very happy decision 11 years ago.

for you, magsmay. It's so upsetting when we lose our pets, but I hope the memories of having Mac's company for those years helps ease the pain.

for Mags. One of the reasons for us not having another dog is that DH can't bear the thought of having to 'play God' again. We only borrow our granddogs now - we see more of them than the DGC!

We live quite close to Norfolk Greyhound Rescue Seacliff and there are more greyhounds in our town than all the other breeds put together. All much loved. I do wonder exactly how many greyhounds are bred and rejected each year. Has it become like the Irish donkeys being bred solely to sell to rescue charities.

Oh magsmay I really feel for you and know only too well the emptiness of the dog-shaped space.
However, you know that you gave Mac another chance of life, a loving home and his forever family. He will not have known any of the grief and pain you felt at losing him, going to sleep in the arms of the one you love best is a privilege we as humans surely envy.
It has helped me to know that to let Grace become infirm or distressed in any way would have been the wrong thing to do for he. While she was a brave dog and could put up with wobbly back legs I could NOT have let her suffer and I am glad I was brave enough to put her well being first.
It is a sadness so many of us share. {{hugs}}

mags anyone who has a dog for a friend has to go through that dreadful parting at some stage.

Our beloved Westie died in 2009 and although we have our dear Cairn now we always miss Thomas. Duncan was our saviour and has wormed his way into our hearts just as did Thomas.

It is hard isn't it?

As you know Maw I too am a greyhound slave, after our last girl went to the bridge at the far too young age of 5, we waited over 12 months before we took the plunge last December and rehomed our 3rd retired racer, aged 6. In the intervening months we were called on for pronlonged grandparent duties overseas and being dogless made our availability much much easier, tbh I don't know how we'd have arranged the 3 months we were out of the country. Life in practical terms became much easier, although with that greyhound shaped vacancy at every turn! So I do know how you are feeling at the moment. I'm on the cusp of 70 and DH is already 70 and we did think long and hard about our ages (although in good health currently, touch wood) so we went for a "middle aged" greyhound this time (maybe somebody should let her know this as as she zooms round the garden you'd never know!). I don't have to give you all the good reasons to have a dog in your life, but with your situation etc I think the advice re waiting and having some dog-free freedom is a good idea - you may find it easier to make a definite decision then x

Our last dog was pts in the October before DH died suddenly the following January. During those 3 intervening months we had decided not to replace her, enjoying the freedom to visit friends and family at home and abroad. As she aged she had become high maintenance. Another upside was the lack of doggy smells in the house and constant vacuuming of black doggy hairs! We had often had to leave her for 3 months at a time when we were in Oz which wasn't entirely satisfactory for either of us. After I was widowed it was often ĺonely and a dog would have been a comfort but I decided to remain pet free as I am away from home so often and 5 years on I haven't regretted the decision. Perhaps when I am older and not on the go so much I may change my mind and invest in a furry friend , who knows ....