When Puppies Grow Old

My Pup is also my best friend. He is going to be 13 in human years this November. He started having trouble going upstairs about a year ago, So When he tells me he was to go, (and he really does know how to tell me), I carry him. He has slipped twice coming down, so now he knows he has to wait for me to go first and wait for him, and I spot for him at the bottom, to insure he doesn't fall. He can't run after his favorite ball, very well any more. And can only play for 5 minutes at a time now instead of endless hours. Some mornings he doesn't feel like eating at his dish, so I bring it to him and sit with him and stoke his back while he eats what ever he feels like eating. Then I reasure him he did a great job, and give him his cookie for desert. He is my best friend, and he can have anything he wants, within my power to give him. When I was sick ten years ago, and needed oxygen at night, every night, to keep breathing, while I was asleep, he would wake me however many times during the night, when that god awful contraption would malfunction, and he would not hear me breathing correctly. He would come over and nudge me awake. EVERY TIME. So, I owe him my life, a bunch of times. He did this for three years! Now, he is four pawed, tail wagging, Shetland Sheep Dog. He is not a two legged pup, but some of them are my friends too, and some of them do some pretty wonderful things for a lot of us, and as time goes on, and they start to slow down a little and not move as fast, We should all remember all the wonderful things that our pups, and the pups that belong to our friends, have done for us, and for others in our comunity, and we should do whatever is needed to insure that they get to go where they want, eat what they want, and be included every single time they want. And the same unconditional love that they have offered to us during their younger more active days, should now be given back in the same unconditional maner that THEY taught us, all those years ago. And maybe, just maybe....this could even be extended to those of us in the comunity that don't actually identify as pups but perhaps it should be how we treat everyone?

Koko's Daddy.

It breaks my heart a little bit to read this, and I wish that there was something I could do. There is certainly a place for aged pups in our community, they just need more tender loving care than some other pups.

Many pups are broken, in various ways. Some pups have been damaged mentally, and need that TLC, some have been damaged Spiritually, and need that TLC, some have been damaged Physically. It does not make them any less of a pup, or mean that they deserve to have their pup ignored, it means extra care and caution when handling these pups.

In my world, all pups are valuable, and all pups should have the love and care that they need. puppy Peaches, if you ever want scritches, just walk up to me and put my hand on your head, and I'll scritch. If I have treats and you want one, bark once, and I'll come to you.