• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

How hard is it to foster an aging or sick pet?

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,297
Location
Reno
As most of you know, we said good bye to Ziggy at the end of January, which has left an empty spot in the house, which we've been filling fairly well by taking @Andy Mink's dogs from time to time.

Today I saw this story on a local TV Station and its tugging at my heart, so much so that I actually found myself in tears.
Nevada Humane Society needs hospice foster homes for aging or ailing pets in the shelter.

What's really tugging at me... I can't imagine being in a shelter at the end of your life.

The real question is; can we do this?

I mean, if I'm sobbing while I watch the story, how am I going to handle escorting another pet over the rainbow bridge.
 

surfsnowgirl

Instructor
Skier
Joined
May 12, 2016
Posts
5,765
Location
Magic Mountain, Vermont
That would be so tough. My dream is to foster one day because that's my way of helping multiple animals over time, maybe a dog for a few weeks and so on. Whereas when I rescue one I'm still helping a fur baby but it's one at a time for years and years. I will always do this but think fostering will be a way to reach even more.

I'm not sure if I could foster a hospice animal as I've lost 2 pets in the last 2 years and it would be way too much PTSD. That said I think anyone who does this is a wonderful human being and if you can do it then you will be the hero for many and know that you helped that animal spend it's last days/weeks/months in a kind loving home versus a shelter. You can do it, you just have to decide if you are ready since it's still a fresh wound for you.

When I first lost Pacino I would have been hesitant to adopt/rescue an older animal but it's been 18 months now so I'd consider this. A hospice fur baby is another thing, don't think I'll be ready for that for a long while.
 

Novaloafah

Should've paid attention to that lesson.
Skier
Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Posts
238
Location
Halifax NS Canada
We have www.elderdog.ca here where you can either adopt an elder dog or volunteer to assist senior's who may find it difficult to take care of their dog as they age themselves. Having just lost our old girl, I'm not sure I'm able to adopt an elder dog emotionally but we are certainly thinking about volunteering to help seniors with their pups.
 

pete

not peace but 2 Beers!
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
2,542
Location
Iowa
well,

I work rescue and find it extremely rewarding. The tough thing on this is knowing the pet will pass. I've fostered while forever homes are found and some of the pooches are older with only a few years left.

I think the big thing is the degree of assistance the dog needs. The dog may need daily care, have physical issues (incontinence) that may not be what you can offer or deal with. So one needs to determine the degree of care they can provide to assure the pet, while rewarding, isn't a burden to your life - least in terms of excess beyond what you can handle.

I work with rescue and with our breed, he or she may always come back, so I would look to a group that has back end support for anyone adopting/fostering and can take the pet back if unforeseen things happen.

Too, there can be significant costs associated with a pet, if fostering the organization typically covers all or many of the pricey things if needed, but while it may sound negative, a real consideration as some folks are surprised at what health care costs can be.

My kids puppy had a bout with Parvo ... 8 - 10 days in critical care for a pet runs in the thousands.

Once I retire I will foster more, and if helping a dog enjoy their last months are part of it, I will definitely consider and likely give it a try. Sadly the worst part is I'll still shed tears.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Tricia

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,297
Location
Reno
Having just lost our old girl, I'm not sure I'm able to adopt an elder dog emotionally but we are certainly thinking about volunteering to help seniors with their pups.
Same here. It was so hard, and I still cry when I look through pictures of Zig, but I also know we're not ready to let another pet adopt us full time.
I'm thinking hard because I can't imagine an elderly dog spending its last days in a shelter.
 

T-Square

Terry
Admin
Moderator
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
7,559
Location
Enfield, NH
Hmmm, @Tricia, to me it is fully obvious. You didn’t think we can’t do this. You thought can we do it. That means you can. Think of the joy you will be missing if you don’t. I adopted a 16 year old cat as a friend for my other 16 year old cat. One of the best decisions I’ve made. He was a great friend, even with all his issues.
 

VickieH

Contrarian
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
1,928
Location
Denver area
A topic that is near and dear to my heart -- I can see myself providing this kind of service when my lifestyle can accommodate it.

This does not have to be a long-term commitment like it is when you get a puppy. You could try it with a dog or two and see how it feels ... maybe even start with a dog who isn't expected to have a lot of time left.

But first, you may want to make sure your home is suitable for weak dogs ... things like a doggy dog, sleeping place near the door, ramps so they don't need to negotiate steps or very shallow steps with large landings, a way of confining them if incontinence becomes an issue. You may have already gone through all of that with Ziggy. You'll probably need to partner with someone to provide care in your home when you are away -- and that could even mean for an extended day, not just overnight trips. The purpose is to provide them with a single and final home that is quiet and stress-free. They may not become "pets" in terms of sharing an active life with you, but will depend on you and trust you.

I think the other thing would be to determine your parameters and select the right dogs. Dogs that need hands-on medical care multiple times a day (i.e., injections, subcutaneous fluids) may not be a good fit in a home of working people.

My thought is to have multiple dogs at a time ... to let them establish their own family versus the intense one-on-one relationship I've had with dogs in the past. I think that would help me better accept their passing. While it's not supposed to be about me, I know I can't go through a heart-wrenching every few months.

If you decide to give it a go, I'll be interested to follow your story and learn from your experience.
 

Ken_R

Living the Dream
Skier
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Posts
5,775
Location
Denver, CO
As most of you know, we said good bye to Ziggy at the end of January, which has left an empty spot in the house, which we've been filling fairly well by taking @Andy Mink's dogs from time to time.

Today I saw this story on a local TV Station and its tugging at my heart, so much so that I actually found myself in tears.
Nevada Humane Society needs hospice foster homes for aging or ailing pets in the shelter.

What's really tugging at me... I can't imagine being in a shelter at the end of your life.

The real question is; can we do this?

I mean, if I'm sobbing while I watch the story, how am I going to handle escorting another pet over the rainbow bridge.

After taking care of my 2 aging pets last year (they both passed within months of each other) I would tell you that it is very taxing. It takes time and money. They really needed us to be there with them constantly as they developed health issues. Thankfully we could. It was also very tough for us emotionally. We never though twice about it because they had been with us for 14 years. We just took care of them the best we could and gave them as much love as we could.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Tricia

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,297
Location
Reno
After taking care of my 2 aging pets last year (they both passed within months of each other) I would tell you that it is very taxing. It takes time and money. They really needed us to be there with them constantly as they developed health issues. Thankfully we could. It was also very tough for us emotionally. We never though twice about it because they had been with us for 14 years. We just took care of them the best we could and gave them as much love as we could.
Trust me, with Ziggy having diabetes and pancreatitis for the last 18 months of his life, I know what its like.
 

Decreed_It

I'd rather be skiing
Skier
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Posts
905
Location
Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia
God Bless you @Tricia for even considering it. We said goodbye to Ginger back in February, she'd have been 14 in June. Ruby, her half-sister cousin, will turn 14 in November. We lost Bailey, a 2 yo, got out and hit while we were on Xmas vacation last year. Now we have Harley, not quite 1 and got a re-home Cody - about 6 months.

I'm not man enough to deal with a Ginger on a regular basis. Ruby is doing great and was always the slender one, so I think she's got some time left. I got emotional just reading this thread. BUT - I think it could be an incredibly rewarding, if not emotionally exhausting, mission for you. I'd too follow your experience with interest if you choose to go for it.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Tricia

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,297
Location
Reno
This. Especially with pets that require chemo and associated steroids/booster shots :(
Having Ziggy with his health issues, of course this is a consideration. We do have an incredible support team around us, but at this moment, its a matter of finding out more details and realizing if its a good fit for us while we're getting into our crazy season.
 

Jerez

Skiing the powder
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 25, 2015
Posts
2,992
Location
New Mexico
We lost our two 20 year old cats about two years ago within weeks of each other. It still takes my breath away. But you would be fostering an animal that you already know is in hospice. You will love them for sure. But it wont be like having them since puppies. Perhaps they will be more like patients than children. Then it wont be quite the same level of grief?
Admiration for even thinking about it.
We actually have a hospice shelter here in Santa Fe which was started by a retired nurse.
 

coskigirl

Skiing the powder
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,590
Location
Evergreen, CO
I've been doing a lot of work in self talk for myself lately and one of my key questions to myself when in moments of doubt comes from a favorite Peloton instructor. To the point that I'm planning a tattoo centered around it because it makes me pause, consider, and get through what is often a self-imposed barrier. "But what if I can?" So, I'll ask you (and @Philpug) But what if you can? What if you can give a sweet dog a few weeks, months, years of a blissful life in your home so that as they pass they know they were loved, not left?
 

Josh Matta

Skiing the powder
Pass Pulled
Joined
Dec 21, 2015
Posts
4,123
SO I lost 2 young dogs to cancer in the past two years, and honestly it hurt, we have no kids and we treat our dogs pretty much like our furry kids.

I would look at adopting or sheltering a hospice pet as giving them the best life they can and for that short period of time you will be their life and they will absolutely love you. This all assuming that the vet care is taken care of.

I honestly can not believe someone would put a dieing pet up for adoption. What flipping awful people.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Tricia

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,297
Location
Reno
"But what if I can?" So, I'll ask you (and @Philpug) But what if you can? What if you can give a sweet dog a few weeks, months, years of a blissful life in your home so that as they pass they know they were loved, not left?
Perhaps they will be more like patients than children. Then it wont be quite the same level of grief?
Admiration for even thinking about it.

These are the reasons I'm even thinking about doing it.
I just can't imagine not doing it, but I keep looking at the schedule I have coming up and I wish I'd seen a story like this at the beginning of the summer when I had more time at home.

Now I'm feeling selfish because its not good timing to do it.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Tricia

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,297
Location
Reno
This part from the article makes it a lot easier, considering that you're providing the home but they provide the medical care and food, although I still have some of Ziggy's dog food here, provided that the sick pet won't need prescription dog food.

Currently the shelter only has 15 hospice foster homes. It is easy to qualify, all you need is a loving home, and the rest will be provided.

“We give them food, we give them medication, and they bring in the animals for medical treatment which is covered by us. The entire thing is covered by us.”

Whether it’s a couple of months or days offering your home, it will mean a lot to pets like Shadow.
 

coskigirl

Skiing the powder
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,590
Location
Evergreen, CO
Deciding it isn't a good time to do it isn't necessarily selfish. If you can't give what an animal deserves that's not good for them either. I want a dog so badly right now but I know it wouldn't be fair to any animal for me to adopt them right now.
 

VickieH

Contrarian
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
1,928
Location
Denver area
Maybe this is a time for learning about it and getting yourselves ready. Maybe in the course of that, you find they have a dog whose needs are a good match for your current ability. Keep an open mind. You guys have so much to offer.

I looked into this topic previously. There were a couple of things I noted then that you might want to get clear on with the specific organization. 1) They provide the medical care -- this may mean you have to use the vet they specify. Where is that vet located? I don't like the thought of taking a sick dog on a 4-hour round-trip to see a vet. Especially if it's a weekly thing, or the vet has specific and limited hours they will see these dogs. 2) The organization makes the medical decisions -- this could mean they choose to continue care beyond what you would and you have to step up to that, or they choose to euthanize when you still see quality of life. You might see how your views on treatment and euthanasia align with theirs. Or if they leave the decision totally up to the vet.

It's wonderful that you are considering opening up your home and lives to these dogs in need. Have confidence that the right situation will present itself and at the right time.
 

laine

I ski like a girl. Fast.
Skier
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
729
Location
Palm Springs
I volunteer weekly at the city animal shelter in Oakland. Every now and then, we put out the word looking for fospice - foster hospice care. This happened recently with one of the volunteer favorites, Anchiale, when we found out she had cancer. The people who took her in had another pittie and they got along ok. And the volunteers created a fund for Anchiale's bucket list.

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/anchiales-bucket-list - the bucket list we created
https://www.instagram.com/pittie_rory/ (name is of the initial family dog) - they are posting photos of Anchi doing some of the bucket list things

It may be hard, but it honestly makes us so happy to know that she is being taken care of in her final months. Honestly, when I retire, I hope to return the favor and take care of some of these dogs someday. I was a puddle when we lost Ollie, our first dog, but we gave him a good life and he was loved.
 

Sponsor

Staff online

  • Tricia
    The Velvet Hammer
  • Dwight
    Practitioner of skiing, solid and liquid
  • Andy Mink
    Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
Top