Remembering Two Beloved Senior Pets
Cruz was surrendered to Second Chance when his person lost their housing. He’d been passed around to several homes before that and was over ten years old. He had some food sensitivities and a thyroid condition. He also had the cutest frosted face. Our staff fell in love, but we knew he was not the most “adoptable” guy. Senior dogs are often overlooked, and his breed made it even more challenging.
His hero came in and adopted him after two months in our care. Leah says, “Cruz was my 3rd senior rescue. Cruz brought many laughs into our home with his goofiness, love for toys, and snoring. He also brought a lot of love with his cuddles. He always knew when someone was having a hard day. We only had him for just over two years, but it was filled with adventures, walks, traveling, hiking, and lots of love. Cruz will be forever missed.”
When asked if she would adopt a senior dog again, she said, “Absolutely. I will continue to adopt senior dogs. They are so special. If people would give them a chance they would see this too.”
Mercy was a cat who had so many things working against her. She was 12 years old, deaf, and hid whenever someone entered the room. Our volunteer, Heather, adopted her after she’d been with us for 18 months.
Heather says, “Mercy chose us. We didn’t let her age change our decision. We had recently lost our cat, Tava, and thought we weren’t ready for another cat. I went to volunteer one day, and Mercy popped her head out and came right to me. I had never seen Mercy because she was always hiding. I scooped her up, and she hugged my neck with her paws, laid her head on my shoulder, and purred in my ear for at least 45 minutes. It was like she knew exactly what I needed. When she met my husband for the first time, she ran right up to him, doing figure-eights between his feet. He said, ‘Well, I guess she is ours now’.”
Heather and Ed had adopted older animals before, including a 12-year-old Husky named Kaja. They assumed their time with Mercy would be limited to a couple of years. The day they brought Mercy home, she hopped out of her carrier, found her favorite chair, curled up, and fell asleep. Mercy lived almost seven more years, enjoying a wonderful quality of life until her final days.
Heather’s advice to anyone considering a senior: “Never assume an older pet equals an impending loss. You will reap the rewards of a special kind of love and gratitude that only senior pets can give. Adopting senior pets has given me a sense of purpose and helped me prioritize my values. It shows me the importance of spending quality time with loved ones. Allowing an older animal to spend their final days, weeks, or years in a safe and comfortable place is the best gift you can give them. They always return that gift with love, appreciation, and companionship.”
The love and bond you share with a pet isn’t measured by time. No matter how long you are fortunate to have a pet by your side, it will never be long enough.
Rest in peace, Cruz and Mercy. You were loved and treasured and will be remembered forever.
Mia is a senior female dog who is affectionate and friendly, and loves nothing more than food, toys, and people. Mia has been well-trained and is good on the leash, making her an ideal walking companion. Mia loves to play fetch and can’t get enough of her squeaky toys. If you’re looking for a loyal companion who will stick by your side, Mia is your girl.
Since 1994, the Animal Resource Center and Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been serving Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose Counties. Our adoption hours are every day, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Address is 177 County Rd 10, Ridgway, CO. You can view our shelter pets and services online at secondchancehumane.org.