People call or email Old Dog Haven every day with questions, so I thought this week I might answer 10 frequently asked questions with the hope that perhaps a question you have will be addressed here. You can also visit our website (www.olddoghaven.org) if you need more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 1.  Where is your shelter and/or office?

Old Dog Haven is NOTa shelter. All of our dogs live with families in private homes. You can reach our office by contacting office@olddoghaven.org or calling 206.280.7614.

 

 

 

2.  Do you take in dogs from any state?

We only take in senior dogs from western Washington.

3.  How do you decide which dogs to take in?

Our first priority is to take in senior dogs that are in shelters, are 12 years or older, not adoptable and not aggressive. Sometimes, if we have room, we will take in dogs from individuals who need to re-home them. If you have a senior dog that needs a new home and fits the above criteria, please contact: placement@olddoghaven.org.

 

 

4.  I’m moving. May I drop off my dog to you today?

No. You’ll need to contact placement@olddoghaven.org to talk with our Placement Coordinator who will guide you through the process of possibly re-homing your dog with us. We may not be able to help immediately, so if you know that you’re moving, please give us plenty of notice before you leave.

 

5.  I just found a stray. Can you take him?

No. We are not able to take in stray dogs. You need to bring the dog to a shelter and if no one claims the dog within the required holding period and the dog meets our criteria, the shelter may contact us.

6.  May I put Old Dog Haven in my will as a beneficiary?

Yes, but you’ll need to have legal papers drawn up declaring ODH as a beneficiary.

7.  My neighbor’s dog is being neglected. What can I do? May I bring the dog to you?

No. You need to notify Animal Control about the situation and ask them to do a wellness check for the dog. If the dog is brought to a shelter by Animal Control, and the dog is surrendered to the shelter, the shelter may contact us if the dog meets our criteria.

8.  My dog is between 8 and 12 years old and is adoptable. How can you help me find a home for him?

Contact our Placement Coordinator (placement@olddoghaven.org) and she will guide you through the process of “courtesy posting” your dog on our website. This service has proven to be very helpful to people who are interested in having someone adopt their young senior dog. If you look at our website (www.olddoghaven.org) and look under “Adoptable Senior Dogs in western Washington” you’ll see dogs that we’ve posted for individuals.

9.  My elderly relative can no longer care for her dog that has severe dementia and is incontinent. Will you take the dog?

Possibly, but if the dog has a very poor quality of life you may want to think about whether it’s in the dog’s best interests to be placed in a new home at this stage of his life. If you’d like to talk with someone about this kind of situation, please contact our dog counselor at ardethdv@comcast.net.

 

 

10. Can my elderly relative provide a foster home for a dog?

That depends on whether or not your aunt is able to care for a dog. Many of our fosters are senior citizens, but they must be able to provide for the dog’s needs on every level. Everyone interested in providing a foster home for one of our dogs needs to fill out an application (email office@olddoghaven.org) before being considered. We are always looking for more foster families to accommodate the list of dogs waiting in shelters. All medical expenses for dogs in our care (including prescription food) are paid for by Old Dog Haven.

 

 

 

Note: Many of our Final Refuge (permanent foster) dogs’ stories are posted on our website and I invite you to read their wonderful and inspiring “tails.” These stories tell you in a very personal way what Old Dog Haven is all about. 

 

 OUR MISSION

To provide loving safe homes for senior dogs, age 8 and up, who have been abandoned or will become homeless at this stage of their lives. This may include:

  • Taking the older dogs (12+)into our homes and caring for them as members of the family as long as they have good quality of life, with preference to the oldest dogs including hospice situations;
  • Taking dogs with a reasonable life-expectancy into temporary foster homes and adopting them into a permanent home with people who will devote themselves to the dog;
  • Assisting owners in placing their senior dog into an appropriate new home, without asking for compensation.

 

We intend to keep these dogs as healthy and comfortable as possible by providing excellent veterinary care, without heroic measures intended only to extend life.  We are committed to helping these dogs find peace in their last years, regardless of our judgment of the humans who have left them.

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