Meet the seniors, the four-legged versions
I am, if nothing else, a major animal lover. I brake for squirrels, have been known to lure snapping turtles out of busy roads and have chased down and leashed more than my share of stray dogs. So it comes as no surprise to me that I am a devoted mom to senior pets with special needs.

Meet the pets:

Annie (pictured with a dog toy), a 18-year-old rescue cat with bladder cancer and arthritis, is my best sleeping buddy. She has had two surgeries to remove the bladder mass, which was first benign and then turned cancerous and is now on chemotherapy. She pre-dates all my other pets and my two daughters, so she has a special place in my heart.

Charlie (pictured in the dog's kennel), a chubby 12-year-old tabby rescue cat, loves all people and animals and is a major “purrer.” He has been on a special diet due to a urinary blockage several years ago and now is being treated for pancreatitis. He and Annie like to groom each other and sometimes nap together.

Dee-Dee, age 11, found wandering in a local park near a busy road, has chronic eating issues and does not enjoy the hair trims I provide every few months. She likes to wrestle with Charlie and hiss at Annie.

Carli, a hyperactive 5-year-old beagle/terrier mix is a two-time rescue dog and has anxiety issues relating to other dogs and people, but usually tolerates her feline family. Carli barks. A lot. She is also very smart and I have taught her quite a few tricks. To walk her, I use a harness and a collar with two leashes and just hope that we don’t see any other dogs along the way because she gets hysterical. She loves kong toys and all things peanut butter.

You hear a lot about the “sandwich” generation of baby boomers, taking care of children and parents. Maybe aging pets are the condiments for that sandwich. Or maybe I should just feed them sandwiches. 

 

I wouldn’t have it any other way.