Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Needs special attention,
Story
AT 13 YEARS OLD, SPENCER’S WHOLE WORLD DISAPPEARED.
Meet Spencer, a 13-year-old, 16-pound Bichon mix and, yes, a bit of a curmudgeon. But right now, we think Spencer has earned the right to be a little grumpy.
Due to sudden medical circumstances with dad, his dad and family could no longer care for him, and suddenly everything Spencer knew was gone. His person. His home. His routine. His familiar smells and places. And nobody can explain any of it to him. We know he was loved, regularly saw the vet too. This is as hard on him as it must be on his family.
Spencer is currently staying with Director Beth while we help him adjust and learn exactly what this little old gentleman needs. The Spencer we currently care for is not the Spencer so comfortable in his true home, the one family knew over the years. It’s understandable.
What we know is that this change makes him anxious. His hearing and vision are limited. He doesn’t like being picked up, and grooming—especially his front half—is definitely not on his list of acceptable activities. He generally ignores other dogs as long as they respect his space, but rowdy dogs are a hard no.
He keeps his area clean on a schedule, alerts when he needs to go outside, and walks pretty well on a leash. He LOVES his walks. He hasn’t gotten settled enough to show his relaxed side, we hope a foster after his vet visit and needed dental will be a good change.
And this one gets me.
Sometimes, watching him walk with such determination, part of me wonders if Spencer thinks that if he just keeps going, maybe he’ll find his dad. Maybe home is around the next corner.
Of course, we don’t know what Spencer is thinking. But we do know he’s confused, and he’s trying to make sense of a life that changed overnight.
He’s transitioning foods and appreciates some canned food added to dinner. His stomach and potty schedule are still adjusting, so an occasional accident may happen while everything settles. He is scheduled for a full veterinary exam and dental on September 17.
We didn’t press for details about why another family member, or arrangements hadn’t been made prior, couldn’t take Spencer or whether every option had been explored. It was presented as an urgent situation, and our first concern was getting him somewhere to settle. But it breaks my heart that there wasn’t someone he already knew ready to say, “I’ve got him.” Family comes in all “sizes”. Not necessarily blood.
Spencer’s story is also an important reminder: Please make a plan for your pets. Choose someone they know and trust, make sure that person has agreed to care for them (check in often they still can), and, if possible, set aside funds to help with the expense of adding another pet to their household.
For Spencer, we’re looking for something pretty simple: a quiet home, a patient person, a predictable routine, gentle hands, and no rowdy canine or child roommates. Someone who understands that a 13-year-old dog shouldn’t be expected to reinvent himself overnight.
Spencer lost the person he expected to grow old beside. Now he needs someone who will make sure he doesn’t have to face the rest of his senior years alone.
