Aibu to get an old rescue dog?

[RoseLight]

Used to always have dogs but not had one for several years. Have seen an old dog who is currently in foster. Apparently she is extremely well natured and no trouble but due to her age no one has been interested.

She is 12 years old but still plays like a young dog (small breed so better longevity i guess)

Obviously her age would make insurance extremely expensive and she is very close to an age where health will decline and vets bills will be massive.

WIBU to give the poor lass a loving home for the last years she has, knowing it may be a put to sleep conclusion if her health declines so much that vet bills are too much for us?

Fully prepared to be told aibu.

YADNBU! If you can afford the fees then go for it. DM's small dog lived until she was 18 and hardly needed any vets treatment at all. Please post pictures if you adopt her.

You are the exact opposite of unreasonable! As someone who volunteers in animal rescue you have no idea how much that dog will adore you for giving them their retirement home. Older dogs are so looked over and its heartbreaking and annoying.

Quite often rescues will agree to cover some or all of the vets' bills on older animals to make sure they don't miss out on a new home.

I've had older cats and they've all been brilliant. If you like her, and can see yourself living happily with her, take her on. You'll both have a blast.

Not only are you NBU but you are doing a truly wonderful thing. You may not have many years with her but she will know love for those years. Good for you.

YANBU. I see many older dogs waiting to be rehomed and would consider it myself. Many are the same age as our dog and it always surprises me to see them described as 'Oldies' and in need of a 'twilight home' as she (and they) are so healthy with so much still to offer.

I love people who do things like this! You're definitely doing something wonderful.

YADNBU! A friend of mine took in an old dog (owners had divorced, couldn't look after him) - she gave him a lovely home for a couple of years, and the family got so much out of looking after him (he was such a lovely natured dog, soft as anything and great with kids).

Do it, I am feeling really sad about another thread on here where posters are saying that they don't give a shit about where animals come from and they buy them from gumtree and FB.

I have an oldie rescue.

What a lovely kind thing to do for an oap dog. YADNBU, you are being wonderful.

I would do it myself.

Ah you should do it. We have an older rescue dog and actually she has cost us hardly anything in vets bills (we don't have insurance). The only issue we have now is that she is starting to lose her sight so when anyone outside of our family approaches her she flattens her ears and if they get closer (which they always do despite us saying not to!) she snaps at the air. So people are a bit scared of her now! But she is soft as shite really and my kids know how to act around her (plus she has barely any teeth left and couldn't outrun a snail )

I am always drawn to the oldies, have never chosen a young pet. With older ones you know what you are getting and they need love just as much as the young ones. Heartbreaking when they go but they have been loved in their autumn years and that matters, a lot.

Oh please do! To give an older dog a loving home so that she can live out her final years in comfort and with someone there to love her and hold her when she needs it would be an amazing thing.

The finances would be a huge thing for me. I would hate to have the dog for months or years and then have to face a hard decision purely on the basis of money. Our old cat had a thyroid issue and arthritis. Meds were £60 a month. I would have felt awful even having to think about having her PTS. With the meds she was fine and happy.
If you can afford vet treatment as the dog ages then yes. I absolutely would take it on.

Go for it- but be prepared to let the dog go when the time is right. If you trust your vet be guided by them. It is bonkers to incur huge vets bills for an old dog if the quality of their lives is not good. Give this dog some quality time at the end of its life then let it go without distress. I've had two old rescues, both 10.5 when we got them. We had 18 months with one and two years with the other. They were lovely old boys and it was a pleasure and a privilege to live with them. One of saddest things I had to do was take an old lady's elderly dog to be pts. She couldn't bring herself to take it to the vet because she was scared of what the vet would say.

Absolutely go for it OP :) you're doing such a lovely thing. Wish you and the new canine addition to your family all the best! 🐶

Quite often, the rescues will cover the vet bills too.

I've always had old resue dogs because I don't want the responsibility of a puppy for 16 years.
They are great and have grown out of all the most embarrassing traits - jumping up, humping things etc and are more civilised.
I don't have insurance and just pay for things like eye drops as they happen.
They are lovely and you know you are doing a good thing.