I brought home my dog Chance this past spring. He’s 9 years old and turning 10 this December, and I love him so much. Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of dog memorial posts on TikTok, and it’s made me wonder… how do you all deal with the reality of your dogs getting older?
When I first got Chance, people told me, ‘I could never adopt an older dog knowing they only have a few years left.’ I didn’t really think much of it then.
But with mini schnauzers living around 12-14 years (and my dog having seizures), I can’t help but worry about how much time we have left together. Does anyone else feel this way?
My dog is just 2 years old, but I cry all the time thinking about losing him. I really want to foster an older dog someday, but it sounds silly, I just don’t want my pup to go through that kind of loss. I figure when my little guy’s time comes, I’ll be ready to adopt a senior dog.
Just remember, you’re giving them the best care and so much love when they need it most. It’s an act of love knowing that it will bring pain, but it’s worth it. If you don’t do it, who will? Is the pain worse than their final days being spent alone in a shelter?
I have a 9-year-old labernese, and I know I’ll have to say goodbye one day. I never thought much about how long we’d have when I first got her, but now, as she’s turning 10 on December 25, I do. Nothing has really changed in her behavior, though. I’m trying not to worry too much and just enjoy the time we have together.
As someone who has adopted senior dogs multiple times, I accept that loss is part of the deal from day one. Dogs don’t live as long as we do, so when you bring one home—whether it’s a puppy or senior—there will come a day when you lose them. It’s tough to face, but I’d rather give them all my love during our time together than avoid it and not love them at all.
I let myself cry for a day and then I get back to making a call to the shelter. ‘Do you have any dogs over ten years old and under ten pounds? You do? Great! I’ll be down soon.’
Love them hard, love them fast, and let them go before things get bad. Rinse and repeat. I hope that when I’m old, I’ll be cared for as well as my dogs have been.
I’ve had pets for over 40 years now. Pets are wonderful companions and bring so much joy, but you quickly accept that their lives are short compared to ours.
The first loss is the hardest. I was devastated for years after my dog Brownie passed, and I still have a small memorial for him. Since then, I’ve adopted more pets, and that first loss helped me deal with future grief. It’s still tough, but I know how to handle it now. I even added four cats to Brownie’s memorial.
When my grandmother passed away ten years ago, I realized my pets had taught me how to accept loss. She was amazing and I miss her, but I could grieve better because of what I’d learned from my pets. Now, in my 50s, I’ve seen more friends and family pass, and it’s never easy, but it’s not overwhelming anymore.
I only adopt senior pets now. There are so many in shelters that need homes. When you look into the eyes of a 12-year-old cat, you see their years and their stories. I can’t let them spend their last days in a cage. When they pass, there’s sadness, but I know I made their final years happy. That realization has also taught me to be more compassionate toward people. I used to volunteer at shelters, but now I see that there’s a bigger human need. I can’t do much, but I can show compassion. My pets taught me that.