After his previous owner died, the 97-year-old acquired 17-year-old Jack Russell.
Marjory from Durham and aptly named Jack recently suffered a loss as her former dog died just before the lock last year. Marjory knew that Jack was the dog she wanted to adopt the moment she spotted him on the Dogs Trust website.
‘Unfortunately, I lost my previous dog soon before lockdown in 2020, and the house has seemed so empty ever since,’ she said. I’ve had dogs my entire life, so when I saw Jack on the Dogs Trust website, I knew he was the one for me. ‘
‘When I found out how old Jack was, it made me even more determined to find him a home because I couldn’t stand the thought of him spending the rest of his life in kennels.’ He is a very calm dog that like to go at his own pace, which suits me perfectly. I enjoy going for walks with him because he does not pull on the leash and even stays by my side when he is not on the leash.
‘I would recommend that anyone considering adopting a dog consider an older dog.’ They have a lot of personalities and are more likely to adjust to a new home if, like Jack, they have lived most of their existence as a family member.
The lockdown has raised demand for pups and dogs, with prices for popular breeds rising since the pandemic began.
In the nine months leading up to the end of March, nearly half of those who wanted to adopt a dog from the Dogs Trust were explicitly looking for a hairy mate under six months, compared with only 5% looking for a dog aged eight or older. .
As a result, the Darlington Dogs Trust encourages individuals who are considering adopting a dog to consider accepting an elderly citizen into their home.
‘In the past year, so many families have wanted to accept a puppy into their family, but as Jack has shown, older dogs are also excellent companions,’ said Sue Embleton, head of the Rehoming Center at Dogs Trust Darlington.
‘Currently, almost 20% of the dogs in the Darlington Dogs Trust are willing to find their homes forever are above the age of eight and we would love to find them in their perfect families.’ Older dogs are often quieter and less energetic, but they are still playful and enjoy walking in the park, hiking for them can be a thing of the past, which suits certain owners, young and old.
