Kola

“Hi there! My name is Kola. You are meeting me now because my human passed away recently and I have nowhere to go now. My human adopted me from a shelter in 2017. No one knows how old I am for sure, but the best guess is between 9-10 years old. I am a big boy, weighing in at 100 pounds. My vet records indicate that I am a Retriever/Shar-Pei mix.

“At this time I am spending a lot of time alone. Well, there’s my cat friend Mandy, who is also a senior and in need of a home. We are buddies but understand that a day is coming soon when we will part (unless someone wants to adopt us together?). Since I was adopted from the shelter almost 9 years ago, I have not lived with another dog. When I am out on my walks, we come across other dogs, but because I am old and have some arthritis, I am not allowed to meet the dogs. This is for my safety. Maybe I would be fine living with another old dog who could be my pal? I can’t say for sure, but if you know how to introduce dogs and integrate them into a home, perhaps it could work?

“I was and can be a wonderful companion to an adult, but I do not care for young children at all.  I have been around little kids who have pulled on my hair and been rough with me. While I never bit or snapped at them, I did growl a warning and I tried my best to get away from them. Maybe older kids would be fine? I just don’t need the high energy and unexpected behaviors of children of any age.

“I have been good about waiting for potty breaks,  but since my human passed away, I’ve had no choice but to do so.  Of course, I would rather be able to go out when I need to or even just go outside into a fenced yard to sniff and enjoy the sounds of everything around me. I enjoy sitting by the window and watching what is going on.  I will let you know when I need to get outside by going to the door. I am very good at letting you know what I want or need without barking! Instead of barking, I dance and smile when I am happy.  I will nudge my leash when I want to go out for a walk and when I want to play with my toy, I will bring it to you. People tell me all of the time what a GOOD and SMART boy I am.

“I do have arthritis that is helped by a shot I get at the vet. My adopter should be able to continue to provide the veterinary care I need to remain comfortable and moving well.  I take the one-two steps I need to take to go out the front door or the garage slowly.  A home with many stairs would be hard on me. I do have cataracts, you may be able to tell from my photo. Currently I can still see well enough to play and even run from time to time. My hearing is great! As many dogs do, I have seasonal allergies. I take a pill the vet prescribed to help keep me from feeling itchy and it works!

“I really enjoy at least a walk a day. We don’t have to go far, and I won’t pull too much on the leash. I love playing with my ball or toy. The retriever in me loves to play fetch. We can have great fun together, playing fetch, going for short walks or just hanging out. I am not demanding at all, just lonely right now, but I put a brave face on for my caregivers who come to make sure all of my needs are met and spend a little time with me.

“If you are looking for an older friend who is calm but still active, intelligent, and loving, let’s meet! I would love to find an adoptive home soon.”

Kola is located in Vancouver, WA. For contact information please email: referrals@olddoghaven.org

This is not an Old Dog Haven dog. Old Dog Haven has not assessed this dog for medical issues and will not be responsible for medical care after adoption. We urge prospective adopters to do their own evaluation.