At Animal Farm Foundation, we believe that all dogs, no matter how old they are, deserve to feel safe, cherished and loved. That’s why we run the Old Friends New Loves program, to connect senior dogs with loving families.
Senior dogs are less likely to be adopted than younger dogs and are particularly vulnerable to the stresses that accompany shelter life. But there’s deep reward in giving an older dog their final moments of love and connection.
Lisa, Russell and their senior dog, Kiya, know this first-hand. In October 2024, they opened their home to Shelly, a 13-year old dog with a very moving story, whose family was devastated to have to rehome her. (Watch the October video below for her full story.)
Over the coming months, we’ll check in with Shelly and her family and the love and joy they’re bringing to each other. We’ll share updates below, and you can follow their story on our social media using the hashtags #seniordog #OldFriends.
⭐⭐Special for Giving Tuesday 2024⭐⭐
Please consider contributing to the cost of care for a senior dog like Shelly. Your donation helps us provide medicine and veterinary supports to dogs and animals on the farm.
ShellY's Story:Updates
November 30, 2024: Let's Get Physical
In November, our senior snugglebug Shelly continued to show us it’s never too late to step out of your comfort zone and learn new tricks, even in the face of serious life changes.
Physical Therapy: A Tough but Necessary Step
Given her age and the stress of rehoming, Shelly’s body needs some extra TLC. To help her regain strength and mobility, she started physical therapy with Allie Johnson, who specializes in helping senior dogs stay active and comfortable.
It’s not easy work. At first, Shelly was unsure and visibly uncomfortable but with patience, encouragement, and plenty of treats, she found her footing.
As we write this, we just wrapped Week 2, and Shelly’s made great progress. Her anxiety is shifting into curiosity and she’s interested in her exercises. She braved the aqua treadmill for a 4-minute session—a step in the right direction! Shelly also improved her cavalletti exercises (walking through poles to strengthen her stride and core muscles), going from just 10 reps in her first session to an impressive 15-20 reps this week. The best part? Therapy is helping her feel better, both physically and mentally.
“I Call Shotgun”
One of the surprising discoveries this month is Shelly’s love for car rides. At first, she struggled with riding in the car, until her new family realized that sitting in the front seat makes all the difference. Open the passenger door and Shelly’s all tail wags and excitement.
So far, she’s not great with navigating, but she never fails to spot a cute pup or squirrel along the route.
As she adjusts, Shelly’s reminding all of us that it’s never too late to muster our courage and try something new.
Can you help? Providing Shelly and other senior dogs the care they need is time-consuming and emotionally intensive – and it’s not free. Physical therapy costs $195.00 for the initial visit and $110 for each session after that. The cost of Shelly’s meds to date is about $312.
Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to make a tax-deductible donation to Animal Farm to help us care for dogs of all ages.
WATCH Shelly’s routine (aqua therapy looks like fun!):
Oct. 31, 2024: Going Home, Again
Watch Shelly’s story in this video:
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Please consider becoming a foster hero for a senior dog. Learn more: Old Friends New Loves.
