Senior Pets

[MiwSher]

I haved been blessed many times with a pet that lived to be quite an age. Kate, a Persian tabby cat, was 17... so was Bailey, a feisty calico. Pearl, a Turkish Angora, was nearly 20. Charles Hamster Brown III was 5 and a half years.

How many of you have also been so blessed?

MiwSher

[Jack Sprat]

It is wonderful that you were blessed with loving companions for so long. Our Jake (cat) lived with us for 17 years, the last five with feline diabetes. Of all the cats that have blessed us, 9, including our current two, Jake was the most beloved. He was totally empathic and shared his affection with everyone. He affected me and influenced my personality more than any human in my adult life.

Our wild chipmonk friend, Fred, who lives in the root system of an old oak stump just outside the kitchen window, has been with us for six years now. We named her when she first moved in, not knowing that she and her babies would entertain us twice a year for the last four years.

[persephone]

I've only ever had one pet other than my dog I have now annd he's a baby.

My cat lived until she was 17 when she died with cancer.
She was the runt of a litter that had been found dumped on a rubbish tip in a black rubbish bag, all her live she was vertically challanged with a big saggy belly where her skin thought her bones would grow into it. Her nasal cavities weren't formed properly either, but nothing ever stopped her being a cat who got everywhere and she was a great mouse catcher.

[Lon]

Although my wife and I love animals, we travel alot and find that owning a pet is not convenient or fair to the pet. Harry the Goldfish is the exception however. It is difficult to become emotionally attached to a goldfish. When we get back from a trip and find Harry (we call all our goldfish Harry) floating upside down, why, we just flush him down the toilet and get another.

[Jack Sprat]

Originally Posted by Lon

...we travel alot and find that owning a pet is not convenient or fair to the pet. Harry the Goldfish is the exception however.

We had friends, since passed away, that used to travel most summers across the country by car. Their trips took anywhere from 3 to 5 months each year. They took their pets with them every time. Two turtles.

[Hawke]

I have three pets who have made it to ripe old ages.
My German Shepherd passed away 2 years ago at the ripe age of 16.
My mutt passed away last month - at 18!
And finally, my black lab is still trucking along at 15.

It's sad when they go, as I've spent the majority of my life with these guys. However, I'm not complaining since they've all lived far beyond average ages. It's amazing what the country will do for a pet

[persephone]

When you say turtles, do you mean the aquatic type or the land type such as tortoises?

My mum had two tortoises, from before I was born, she buys things like these when they have been mistreated.
Anyway, the female went missing a few years back and I found her in the pond... It was horrible, the male has been missing for two years now, and through the summer after the female was gone it was almost as he was pining for her.

We also have two younger tortoises that were born in this country, they are now 21 years old, and live in the garden all year round, because they dig in for winter and if we try bringing them in they are awake for the whole year. It's funny the difference between the ones born here and ones that were bought in from their natural countries.

[Jack Sprat]

Originally Posted by letha

When you say turtles, do you mean the aquatic type or the land type such as tortoises?.

Pond turtles

[valerie]

Originally Posted by Fyrehawke

I have three pets who have made it to ripe old ages.
My German Shepherd passed away 2 years ago at the ripe age of 16.
My mutt passed away last month - at 18!
And finally, my black lab is still trucking along at 15.

It's sad when they go, as I've spent the majority of my life with these guys. However, I'm not complaining since they've all lived far beyond average ages. It's amazing what the country will do for a pet

As the owner of an almost 12 year old GSD, I am ever so happy to hear that
you had one 'till 16!!

My family has had a couple of horses who lived into their upper 30's and one
was my first horse ever they got for me when I was 6 and she was 6. Very,
very hard to have an animal for that length of time and lose them. Bad
enough with dogs.

I just last week saw a cousin who has a dog who is 22 or 23, she isn't quite
sure because he was adopted, but even though he has some vision loss he
is still a really vibrant active guy... who last summer got vet clearance to
take an airline trip!! Can you believe it?!?!?

[beautyful]

I've had a goldfish for what must be nearly ten years and now he seems to have given up all will to swim and drags himself around his tank looking miserable (if thats possible for a fish) think he's on his last legs (well.....you know what i mean ) anyway ten years isn't bad for a fish