On My Soapbox

Once again I climb up on my soapbox to speak in favor of rescuing the older dachshund. Yes, I know it's on this website on other pages, but I think it bears repeating. And so, as long as there is even 1 senior dachsie out there in need of a home, I will continue to climb up on my soapbox and speak for those who have no voice.

Benny
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*On My Soapbox*

So, you've made the decision to rescue a dachshund? Well good for you. There are, unfortunately, far too many dachshunds in need of new homes. Dachshund rescue efforts continue around the country and many people have made it their own personal crusade, so well loved is this special little dog.

Reasons for rescuing a dachshund vary, but in most cases it is because people want a companion for a current pet, or because they recently lost a pet and hope to honor it's memory by giving a good home to another animal. Whatever the reason, the search usually starts at the local humane society. And that's exactly where it SHOULDN'T start. Read on for the reasons I believe the search for an adoptable Dachshund should start with rescue groups or individuals doing Dachshund rescue work.

The most sought after of all dachshund rescues is the "two year old mini". As a result, there are very few of these animals in rescue for very long. And the wait for one can be substantial, often discouraging people from adopting a rescue at all. But why a "two year old mini"? Why not three years old, or one year old, or some other age. This seems to be a psychological thing, more than anything else. At two years old, it can be assumed that a dog will have a good, long time ahead of it. At one year of age, it's "still a puppy", with all of the problems and difficulties that description brings to mind. At three years old, most people assume that the animal has less than 10 years left to it and don't want to think of the heartbreak of losing it so quickly.

The ultimate barrier is at age five. Once an animal turns five years of age, it is almost always impossible to place quickly. And if turned into a shelter, is almost certainly guaranteed a quick euthanization. Most shelters are so overcrowded, the only practical solution for them is to destroy the "unadoptable" animals. How many animals were destroyed last year for the crime of being over five years old? Last month? Last week? Today? When was the last time you saw an animal in a shelter over three years old, for that matter?

Through the efforts of many dedicated individuals, working collectively and individually as "dachshund rescue", a number of dachshunds brought to shelters are spared the final walk and prepared for placement into new and loving homes. Most of these animals range in age from four to nine years, with a few on either side of that range. The younger animals are placed easily and quickly, but the older animals are a different story.

Take just a few moments and look closely at your seven or eight year old dachshund.

Beautiful animal, isn't it? Loves you very much, no doubt. Is there any reason you would want to get rid of it tomorrow? If something were to happen to you and it were necessary for your dog to be re-homed, what would you say it's chances were of finding a good home? Every day, countless animals just like yours remain in rescue because they are "too old" to adopt. But, consider this; in three years, that three or four year old dachshund you hope to find will also be "over age". By adopting an older dachshund now, you have saved yourself that three year wait and gained an additional three years of companionship for yourself and your current animal.

So, consider an older dachshund when you consider rescue. Perhaps your older dachshund would appreciate a companion close to it's own age? Perhaps you can love an older dachshund too, one closer to the age of your current dog? Perhaps even older? The author of this piece adopted a little senior dachshund at age 11 years, 11 months and 13 days. For fourteen months she brought great joy and pleasure to his life, until she passed away in June of 1998. Her love of life and love for her new owner will always be treasured and she will not be forgotten.

Almost without exception, humane societies keep lists of contacts for the various breed rescue groups. Ask them for the contact information and talk with them about older rescues in need of a home. Age should never be a barrier to the adoption of a loving animal who wants only to give you it's greatest gift. Their trust that you are going to love them as they will love you.
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I wrote the above article originally as a post to an email community I was a member of. I feel very strongly about the subject of Dachshund rescue, in particular the older Dachshund who has given almost a full lifetime of love and devotion to his/her family, and now, through no fault of their own, has no place to spend their senior years. No one to love and care for them until their time comes to pass to the Rainbow Bridge. No creature deserves to be alone and unloved just because they are in the twilight of their life.

Please, consider an older rescue too, if you are considering a rescue at all. Read the story of my Precious Punky and her memorial if you would like to know the depth of feeling an older rescue can inspire in one man.

If, after reading about Punky, you would like more information about adopting a senior rescue, I suggest you visit the Senior Dogs Project at http://www.srdogs.com/.

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