20-year-old dog 'heartbroken' after owners surrender him

[douglas9]

LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, Fla. — This is a story that will tug at your heart, break your heart and warm your heart all at the same time.

Dax is a 20-year-old Weimaraner whose life was turned upside down when the owner he'd known for nearly two decades surrendered him to a shelter.

Older dogs at shelters are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized, so the odds were already stacked against Dax. Thankfully, fate intervened when the rural shelter asked for help and Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida agreed to take him.

"It is unfathomable to think about a loving loyal 20-year-old senior dog, at the end of his life span, given up and left confused and heartbroken," they posted on TikTok.

According to its website, Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the largest no-kill, cage-free shelter in the nation and they've saved over 50,000 dogs since 2008. They also travel around the country to save animals after natural disasters, including hurricanes and the 2021 Arctic freeze in Texas.

Big Dog's dedicated staff welcomed Dax with plenty of TLC and the medical team on their 33-acre campus gave the old fella a thorough exam. He has some trouble with his hind legs so Love4Paws, another Florida non-profit, helped raise money to get Dax some wheels for longer journeys.


https://www.khou.com/article/life/animals/20-year-old-dog-surrendered/285-a38ace25-1293-4b5c-bd56-66a775237bfa

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Who would do such a thing?!

When I lost my 16-year-old dog it ripped my heart out...

[mopinko]

3. likely someone w no choice.

an asshole would have just put the dog down. sounds like someone at least gave him a chance.

[3Hotdogs]

4. Yes. Times are shitty for a lot of people. A guy in our suburban N.j. town just posted a Go Fund.

He is being evicted and is raising money so he can buy a van to live in. From his photo, he looks about 60. He is taking his dog with him.

[marybourg]

5. Someone having to go into assisted living?

Or the relatives of someone who died?

[Midnight Writer]

12. I have a dog lying at my feet who was surrendered by his owner.

She had a medical emergency and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

When a cop went to the house to secure the home, he found the dog inside.

The cop knew me and showed up at my door late at night with this dog. He asked me if I could look after it for a while.

The previous owner is now in a nursing home and will probably never come home.

Four years later, and I still have the dog. The County Animal Control signed the ownership of the dog over to me rather than take it to the shelter. So he is now in his "forever home", unless, of course, something happens to me.

[Bluepinky]

13. That's sweet, glad you were there to help!

[mn9driver]

2. Wow. 20 is really old for a breed that size.

Poor baby. Sounds like he is getting good treatment now.

[JudyM]

8. True, based on my experience

Loved those dogs, so smart and gentle.

[Ligyron]

6. I swear, if I somehow won the lottery I know what I'd do with the money.

Bet you can guess too...

hint: woof, woof

[thatcrowwoman]

7. Be sure to follow the link for Dax and his new forever family, folks. This was a 3-hanky story.

Douglas9, many thanks for this story of heartbreak and redemption.
It cracked my heart wide open this morning. I didn’t know I needed that today. Leonard Cohen said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Light receptors running full power now.🌞

It can’t have been an easy decision for the family to surrender Dax after 20 years. I imagine their circumstances were desperate, as they are for so many people in our world today. May they find their way forward. May they find whatever help they may need. May they find some sweet Shalom.

Blessings be to all those who care for people and animals who are in need.
🕊thatcrowwoman

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. I am glad that this dog found a home

[Maraya1969]

10. I adopted a 16 year old Chihuahua who was surrendered because his parents had to

go to nursing care. I had him about 1 year. He was a really nice dog and very well mannered. I'm so glad I took him

[dawn5651]

11. i can't imagine giving my dog up. she is a mouthy what i call shitty tzu...she will be 10

[Faux pas]

14. Kickin'

[milestogo]

15. I know of an older lady who only adopts older dogs.

She doesn't want a young one- too much energy.

Sometimes people willfully give up older dogs. But a lot of times the owner has died or gone to assisted living, and nobody in the family can care for it.

An older dog can have a lot of medical problems, so that can be a challenge.