Senior staffie cross finds new home aged 17

Staff at Dogs Trust’s Merseyside centre are celebrating after finding their oldest senior dog, a 17-year-old staffie cross, a new loving home.

Elderly Lola arrived at the rehoming centre in April, as her family could no longer take care of her. She now has a new home with Susie Dixon-Green and Roger Williams, who fell in love with her as soon as they spotted her on the charity’s website.

Susie says, “For a long, long time I have adopted dogs that are poorly and need a little bit of extra TLC, or older dogs like lovely Lola. We were ready to welcome another dog into our lives, and there was Lola.

“We just thought she was beautiful. She didn’t look her age so although I’d been drawn to her photo, when I saw how old she was it just felt like it was meant to be.”

Unfortunately, senior dogs are not easy to adopt out. According to Dogs Trust, in the nine months up to the end of March this year only 5 per cent of people looking to adopt a dog from the charity were looking for a dog aged 8 or older.

Georgina Lowery, Manager at Dogs Trust Merseyside, says, “Older dogs are often overlooked, and Lola is definitely the oldest dog we have had at the centre for a very long time, and possibly the oldest Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross we have ever had.

“She was a much-loved dog and it was so sad that her owners couldn’t keep her, but as soon as she came to us she went into one of our lovely foster homes so that she could continue to enjoy all her home comforts until she found her forever home.

“We are absolutely delighted that Susie and Roger adopted her and it’s wonderful to know that she is as loved as ever and will thoroughly enjoy her twilight years with them.”

According to Susie, Lola has settled in perfectly and enjoying gentle walks as well as spending time in the garden.

“She seems to be really content,” Susie says. “She follows me around and I love gardening so she is always with me, looking at what’s going on and sniffing around. She is the oldest dog I have ever adopted and I am just so pleased we’ve been able to give her the home she deserves.

“We have always found giving a home to an older dog so rewarding, it’s wonderful. We would encourage anyone thinking of rescuing a dog, to consider giving a golden oldie their forever home.”