Golden Oldies
THOUGHTS ON SENIOR GOLDENS
by Sara Bright Braverman
I've talked to some people who are afraid of adopting a senior Golden because they are afraid of not having much time with their dog or afraid of having their hearts broken too soon. Well, there are no guarantees, because sometimes even the young ones die. Actually, there are a few guarantees: you will learn to love the old guys, and they will learn to love you. Another guarantee: your heart will break whenever it is that they leave Earth. It would break whether you've been together for one year or fourteen years.
They may leave this Earth, but they will never leave you. Once you open your heart and life to a Golden, they will forever be a part of you. Forever. It doesn't matter whether you adopt a young or an old dog. It doesn't matter how much time you've had together.
Rusty - Age 13
You see, I know this because I adopted a senior. Rusty was somewhere around 8 years old when he came to me. We'll never know because he was a stray who was hit by a car. After a one week search for his owners, the vet who was caring for him was told that they didn't want to pay the vet bill for "the stupid dog" and so the vet called Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue, but that's another story for another time.
He arrived 20 pounds overweight but with a smile and wagging tail. Veterinarians have told me (for the past four years) he's about 11 or 12. Two years ago, my vet advised me to have a talk with my young kids so that they could prepare themselves for his death. He has kept going, wagging that tail and making friends along the way. Over the past four months, we have discovered some malignant lumps on his face, a tumor on his heart, and, most recently, bone cancer.
Dauber - Age 11
But you know what this old guy is doing? He's still smiling and that tail is still going. The day we were told about the bone cancer, my 5 and 7-year-old children cried for him and for themselves. After a bit, they decided that we would have a party. Quickly we rounded up the neighborhood kids and they all went to work, making party hats for all, signs and goody bags for the dogs. We celebrated life that night and I learned a lesson from the children. LIFE is to be celebrated, even when death is threatening to come anytime. LIFE is to be celebrated, even when your time together has been too short.
Rusty loves all people, all dogs, all cats. He has a soprano voice, can't walk too far, can't do steps at all and has stinky breath (I won't even go into the other smells!). But for more than 5 years he has brought so much joy and laughter to us. He helped my daughter conquer nighttime fears, with his mere presence on the floor next to her bed. "Rusty makes me feel safe, mama," she would say to me.
Rusty and Dauber
He has made friends with all the neighborhood cats, who come to him, rubbing against his legs. He has played endlessly with my other Golden. He has listened to more of my problems and worries than has my husband. He has helped me exercise, as I carry him up and down the stairs. He is calm, friendly, trustworthy and one of my best friends. He has charmed small children who were afraid of dogs. While we were living in the Middle East for my husband's job, he befriended many Arabs who had never before touched a dog. First the children, with their incredible curiosity, approached us, and then they would bring their timid parents. My Golden Ambassador. He has always been there for me and I will always be there for him, even when we need to say good-bye.
Yes, we've only had 5 years together, but they have been such wonderful years. Isn't that what its all about? Don't ever let the fear of death get in your way of enjoying life. Please, welcome a senior Golden into your life.