The longest-stay dog is usually old, gray-muzzled, and passed over a hundred times. Two nights on a couch tells the shelter things a kennel never can — and tells the dog the world still has couches in it.
Give the Oldest Dog a Weekend Off
Ask the shelter which dog has been there longest and take them home for a weekend sleepover — most shelters have a foster or 'sleepover' program for exactly this.
What you'll need
- A quiet corner of your house
- The shelter usually sends food, a leash, and a bed
- A camera — the photos you take can help them get adopted
Pitfalls
- Ask the staff about the dog's quirks and follow their rules exactly.
- A senior dog mostly wants a nap and a person. Don't overplan the weekend.
- Send your best photos and a short bio blurb back to the shelter — what you learned helps them make the match.
The righteous care for the needs of their animals. — Proverbs 12:10