When you adopt a dog, you commit to loving them for the rest of their life. That includes giving them the best care when they get older and start having health issues.
Sadly, some owners are not up to that responsibility, and surrender their senior dogs to shelters even after owning them for years. That was the case for one 15-year-old dog who recently ended up back at the shelter.
But thankfully this poor old girl got a happy ending after a new family took her in, giving her the second chance she deserves.
On August 7, the Pennsylvania SPCA shared a sad update about a dog named Netty, who was adopted from their shelter 10 years ago. Netty, now a 15-year-old senior dog, was recently surrendered to the shelter, after her owners for the past decade said she was incontinent.
Despite the owners’ apparent concern about her health, the SPCA said they put Netty on medication and that she was “doing wonderfully.” According to Newsweek, the incontinence was due to a urinary tract infection, which was treated at their hospital.
But sadly, she was surrendered to the shelter, leaving her back to square one in her old age. “This old gal is sitting in a shelter in what could be her final days,” the SPCA wrote.
Despite the heartbreaking setback, the shelter was determined to find Netty a new home, “where she can spend whatever time she has left.”
Gillian Kocher, the Pennsylvania SPCA’s director of public relations, told Newsweek that it was “heartbreaking” that Netty was surrendered and that the dog was “fairly depressed,” but they remained optimistic.
“Instead of focusing on what had happened to bring her back to us, we chose to focus on how we can give her the best final days.”
It can be very difficult for senior dogs to find new homes: adopters often want young puppies, and don’t want the responsibilities and heartbreaks that come from taking in an older dog.
But thankfully, Netty soon found a perfect new family. Amy Kidd, a small-pet vet and owner of Pocopson Veterinary Station in West Chester, heard about Netty’s story and was moved, and knew it was meant to be.
Not only was she experienced with caring for senior pets, but her and her family had just suffered the loss of their own 12-year-old rescue dog, who died of cancer last month, Amy told Newsweek.
The family drove to Philadelphia and picked Netty up, giving her a loving new home to spend her final months and years in.
“Our ultimate goal is to love and spoil her every day she has left,” Amy told Newsweek. “We know we don’t have years left with her, but she will be treated like the queen she is from now on.”
Netty has been settling in well in her new home. She has her own giant teddy bear, and other dogs and cats to play with. “She immediately fell asleep on the couch with my daughter surrounded by our six house cats.”
And the Pennsylvania SPCA was thrilled to see Netty go off to a new home — this time, for good.
“We can’t thank everyone enough for spreading the word to help make this happen, and especially to Netty’s family for giving her the best final days,” they wrote on Facebook.
It’s heartbreaking that Netty was surrendered by her owners, but we’re so glad this kind family gave her a new home to spend the rest of her life in.
Please share this heartwarming story! ❤️
