Old dogs - places that re-home and help with bills?

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Hi All

Just after a bit of advice really.

A good friend has recently lost her German Shepherd. She?s had Shepherds for as long as I?ve known her (over 15 years) so is an experienced owner.

They?re now looking at getting another dog (both fit and healthy pensioners) ? I know my friend would love another Shepherd, but her hubby has said a younger Shepherd would really be too much for them to handle now.

I?m sure I read once somewhere that there was a charity that re-homed old dogs, but that helped with the vets bills for the duration of the dog?s life too (which is their only concern with an older dog, all the other problems associated with age they?ve dealt with before along the way). Does this ring a bell with anyone? They?d also be happy with small breeds too of course, I just think they?d prefer an older dog (of any make!) which will go at their pace. Can anyone shed any light on this, or did I imagine it? We?re in the South East, but they are mobile within reason ?.

Thanks!

Is this what you're thinking of?

Dogs Trust run a permanent fostering scheme for some (not all) of their older dogs, see example I linked. It might be worth contacting your nearest rescue centre and see what they say?

Thank you both!

I did look at oldies.org, but doesn't look like they help with bills when they're re-homed?

The other doggie would be prefect, and have forwarded that on to them - it's somewhere for them to start at least!

Save Our Strays are located in the NE and do offer a pension plan with all older dogs and dogs with medical problems that they rehome, this means that veterinary bills are funded but not food, fleaing, worming and other basic costs.

They also place special dogs in long term foster homes where everything is paid for. They do say on their website that they only rehome within a certain radius of their location but I know that for the right home for their special case dogs they are willing to travel a certain distance.

By special case dogs I don't necessarily mean dogs with behavioural issues. My family has one of their 'special' dogs, he was owned by one owner for 11 years, before his owner sadly died and no other family member came forward to claim him. This dog was very stressed in kennels and desperate for someone to bond with. The rescue believed it would be unfair to allow him to bond with a foster carer and then uproot him again at his age so he is in permanent foster with my Dad now. They also do similar for dogs who need a lot of medical care.

There are several charities that do this The oldies club, dogs trust and The cinnamon trust. The level to which they help with vets fees depends on the dog and the potential owners. In some cases they blanket cover all fees, some they provide treatment only so new owners have to pay for boosters and parasite treatment and in some cases the vets have to phone for authorisation for a bills.

Lots of smaller rescues do this too. We have a similar houseful of older greyhounds at the moment. Norty Minx is a "twilight" dog from our local RGT branch (though she is blazing very brightly at the moment). The charity covers vets bills, offers a contribution towards food and will even offer dog sitting if we need to go away. Branch Treasurer offered a contribution towards training class that we are doing at the moment. All that they ask is for routine vet stuff (like when she was spayed) that she goes to their vet, rather than our normal one, as the charity has an account with them. It works brilliantly. We also have two other fosters who are 10 and 8 - homed via a different charity. Again, all vets bills paid, contributions towards food, and a contribution towards kennelling costs when we go away next year. Excellent support and back up. Most greyhound rescues have similar and I know our main local all breed rescue, Hope Rescue also have similar arrangements for older dogs or ones with special needs. Most rescues love people like this who are willing to give homes to older dogs or ones with more complex health needs and will bend over backwards to help them out, especially as kennels are no place for older dogs. I don't know if the GS breed rescues operate a similar scheme but I'd be amazed if they didn't. Might be worth your friend contacting them and offering her services.

Not sure if this is done now but when my parents adopted their friends retired guide dog, the GDA paid the vets bills.

I don't know how many GS dogs are available though.They don't train that many.