"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

 

Gandhi didn't say, "... how its young, beautiful and healthy animals are treated." Rather, he articulated that how a nation discharges its ethical obligations to all of its animals ties directly to its greatness. It is this compassion for all living creatures, including the aged with all of their challenges, which separates cultures that rise from those which stumble and fall.

 

"While many cultures celebrate the aging process and venerate their elders, in Western cultures - where youth is fetishized and the elderly are commonly removed from the community and relegated to hospitals and nursing homes - aging can become a shameful experience. Physical signs of human aging tend to be regarded with distaste, and aging is often depicted in a negative light in popular culture, if it is even depicted at all." (Huffington Post. 7 Cultures That Celebrate Aging And Respect Their Elders, May 18, 2015)

 

Sadly, in our nation, this "youth fetish" extends to many of our nation's pets as well. Here at the Coronado Animal Care Facility we continually take into our care cats and dogs whose only "problem" perceived by their owners is advanced age. Their humans just don't want them anymore, interested instead in younger animals who can give something to them; instead of remembering they took on the commitment of caring for their pet for its lifetime.

 

Of course with aging comes quirks: elder dogs can't walk as far or as fast, their hearing and sight are not as clear, they may have arthritis. Elder cats often need special bland diets, they may sleep more, and some are a bit crankier than when they were young.  I am 65 and these "maladies" are certainly familiar to me... I have them all.  But, as our veterinarian, Dr. Barbour, reminds us every time we take in an elder cat or dog, "Age is not a disease." It is simply whom we are and where we are, still with much to offer, still with much to give.

 

There are so many benefits to taking an elder dog or cat into your home.  Elder dogs do not need the amount of exercise of a young animal, they come to you housebroken, are predictable and like to follow a routine, they have a laissez faire attitude toward life and take it all in stride.  Elder cats aren't as mischievous and down right destructive as kittens and teens can be; they are not as nocturnal, letting you sleep through the night; they can train your other cats to be good pets; and they have a penchant for napping in sun puddles instead of demanding attention from you on their schedule. An older pet is happy spending quiet time with their human, a tremendous gift many of us would love to receive.

 

In March, a 14 year old dog previously adopted from PAWS was given back to us, no longer wanted, and a 12 year old cat was relinquished because she couldn't get along with the new 3 year old cat brought into the house. All of a sudden, through no fault of their own, these animals found themselves alone.  It brought into focus the need for PAWS to begin a new ElderCare program. With this new program comes the need to find committed volunteers willing to give these pets no more than we would want and hope for ourselves: the security of a home with someone to care for and love them until the end of their lives.

 

Are you a person who is not afraid of what we all will someday face: our own aging? Are you a person who has compassion for one of God's creatures who might not be as pretty as they once were, with grey around their mouth and maybe missing some teeth? Are you a person wanting to enjoy the unique gifts an elder pet has to offer? Are you a person who wants to see elders honored rather than abandoned? If so, please contact me at sharon.sherman@pawsofcoronado.org. As part of this new PAWS ElderCare program, PAWS will pay for needed veterinary care as the years go by and will provide food, supplements and flea preventative as requested.

 

We at PAWS so hope to hear from you. Just knowing you are there, ready to step up as an ElderCare volunteer when needed, and when you are able, will bring this new PAWS ElderCare program to life.