It is known that senior dogs are calmer, more docile, and have a lot of love to offer. Sadly, there are pet owners who are pretty enthusiastic about owning one only when they’re tiny and adorable. But once the puppy grows older and develops health issues, they tend to neglect, or worse, abandon them because they don’t want to deal with the responsibilities that come along with it.
Rex, a 14-year-old Pekingese mix, is one of the many senior dogs rejected by their owners. It didn’t matter that he was tiny, had an adorable underbite and a cute tongue that hung at the side of his mouth. He was old, and that alone was enough reason for his owners to abandon him.
One day, a concerned woman found Rex wandering around the busy streets of New York City. Thinking that the dog was simply a missing pet case, she immediately contacted Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary. This non-profit organization takes in senior dogs and lets them stay in their shelter as long as they need it.
Fortunately, the shelter quickly responded to the woman and took Rex in. Eventually, the staff discovered that he had a microchip, and as any shelter staff would do, they immediately contacted his owners with excitement and anticipation.
But what should be a joyful reunion turned out to be a heartbreaking discovery. When Marty’s Place contacted Rex’s owners, they admitted deliberately leaving their dog in the streets because of his age. The worst part is that they didn’t want him back at all.
If only dogs could speak, Rex would probably share how defeated he felt that his family didn’t want him anymore. Fortunately, there are still many kind-hearted people who wish to give senior dogs a second chance.
Maria Buck was one of those people. She initially planned on fostering Rex after her Labrador passed away. Of course, she couldn’t resist Rex’s charming personality, so Rex became a foster fail. It didn’t take long before Buck signed the adoption papers and became Rex’s new parent!
According to Buck, Rex deals with specific issues such as mild allergies, hearing loss, missing teeth – all of which are typical for any senior dog. Otherwise, Rex is healthy, lively, playful, and curious. He likes going for walks and has no signs of slowing down.
This made Buck wonder why Rex’s parents surrendered him, but she’s glad that she has him now. According to her, adopting Rex was the best decision she had ever made.
Rex, the once unwanted and homeless senior dog, now has a loving family and a place to call his home. But his story doesn’t end there. He is also the ambassador for Saving Senior Dogs Week, a national campaign aiming to educate people on senior dogs’ cruel reality, especially across the United States.
Rex may have gone through a lot of challenges as a senior dog, but things ended well for him. Thanks to the loving people from Marty’s Place and to Maria Buck, the woman who didn’t think twice about giving him a better life!
Meanwhile, watch this video from Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, showcasing the amazing work that they do:
Source: Marty’s Place via YouTube