Jess – 11 year old male English Springer Spaniel

Jess is an 11 year old Springer Spaniel who came into Oldies Club care after her owner took her to the vet to be put to sleep. The vet, thankfully, refused and Jess is now in an Oldies Club foster home in Dundee, waiting for someone to offer her a permanent home.

Settled quickly: Jess settled immediately with her foster family and their dogs. It took a few days for her to eat normally but this is to be expected after 11 years with the same family. She didn’t show any other signs of stress though.

Can be left for a few hours: Jess is happy to be left alone for a few hours. She is quiet and non-destructive. She settles well downstairs overnight too. She is completely house-trained and her foster carer has only heard her bark once and that was in play.

Wouldn’t be happy with full-time workers: Jess is very people orientated and wouldn’t want to spend long hours alone regularly. Her foster carer therefore thinks that she isn’t suitable to live with full-time workers as she would be depressed.

Excellent with dogs: Jess is fantastic with dogs and could live with another dog. However, she does enjoy a lot of attention so probably wouldn’t be happy to live with a large pack.

Unknown with cats: There are no cats in Jess’s foster home but she will chase them outside if given the chance.

Fabulous with children: Jess could live with respectful children that are past the toddler stage. She is happy to lay her head on her foster carer’s six year old son’s lap for cuddles.

Good on walks: Jess loves her walks and gets very excited when the lead comes out. She likes to walk on an extending lead but is good on a short lead also. Her recall is good when she isn’t distracted by birds or leaves — she has a typical Springer chase instinct. Jess doesn’t run up to other dogs off lead and she will recall from a play session. Her foster carer has been building up Jess’s muscle tone in her back legs with walks no longer than 20 minutes three times a day, but she could go further.

Uneasy about car travel: Jess is a bit scared of the car but is improving every day. She’s not sick, but she shakes a bit. She is happiest on the back seat with a harness rather than in the boot.

Jess’s favourite pastimes: Walks; Sleeping; Tummy tickles; Getting cuddles. She will chase a ball on occasion but prefers cuddles!

Jess’s dislikes: She was not overly keen on a bouncy puppy she met in the park, but other than that Jess has been fine with everything. She’s not fazed by busy traffic, nor the hoover etc.

Jess’s perfect home: A home where she can have cuddles most of the day and with someone who doesn’t mind being followed around. Jess likes to move if you move and wants to be with you most of the time.

Health notes: Jess is in the process of being vaccinated and will be microchipped and spayed shortly. She has been wormed and flea treated.

Jess was taken to the vet by her previous owner to be PTS. They reported that she had been having infrequent fits for the last two years but they had never sought a vet’s advice. They said she had had 3 fits over the weekend, each lasting more than 15 mins! The vet refused to put Jess to sleep and sought a rescue that would take her, and so she came to the Oldies Club. A full blood count has been done and this came back all within normal range. Jess has been with us for over 4 weeks and there have been no fits or periods of blankness at all, even during the stressful period when she first arrived.

Our foster carer’s vet is inclined to treat Jess as if she is not epileptic as, at the moment, there is no evidence to suggest that she is. He feels it’s possible that if the fits happened at all they could be hormone related and spaying her will help. Jess’s foster carer says: “Having owned an epileptic Springer in the past, I see no signs at all of Jess being ill. The vet agrees that she is in very good condition given her age”.

Foster carer’s summary of Jess: “Beautiful; Cuddly; Loving; Friendly. She is a beautiful girl who does not look or act 11 years old. Fabulous cuddly nature and an all round easy dog to live with. She deserves a home that has cuddles to spare! She prefers to eat once a day and is used to a mixture of complete dried and tinned. She loves to have all the attention for herself and will push in if another dog is having cuddles but not in an aggressive way. She shares toys happily.”

Blue – 1 1/2 year old male Border Collie

Blue is a 12½ year old Border Collie boy who came into Oldies Club care after his owner sadly passed away and family members were not able to look after him longer term. Blue is now in an Oldies Club foster home in Wiltshire, waiting for someone to offer him a permanent home.

Introducing Blue: Blue is an easy-going dog who is eager to please. He loves his walks and retrieving his ball or just pottering around the garden.

Settled quickly; Enjoys having company: Blue settled into his foster home quickly. He loves being around people but is OK to be left for up to 3 or 4 hours. However, Blue’s foster carers would ideally like Blue to go to a home where he will have plenty of company as he does get really attached to people. He therefore wouldn’t be suitable for a home with full-time workers, but part-time workers might be OK

Good with dogs: Blue is fine with other dogs and is happily living with three Labradors. On walks, he would like to play with the other dogs, but he seems to realise that they are perhaps too fast for him, so he just potters along on his own.

Hasn’t lived with cats but ignores them outside: Blue hasn’t met any cats whilst in foster, but we were told that in his previous home he would just ignore the neighbour’s cats that came into his garden. He tends to ignore other animals.

Could live with teenage children: Blue’s foster carers feel that, due to his soft nature, Blue would be OK to live with sensible, considerate teenage children. He would enjoy children making a fuss of him, but wouldn’t want them to overdo it or pull him around. They would need to be calm around him.

Loves walks: Blue loves his regular walks. He is always first out the door and waiting at the gate for his lead. He is good on the lead, occasionally pulling out of eagerness, but provided you set a reasonable pace he is fine. He will try to eat the lead if it gets in his way or if you stop on the way to the fields, but this is easily stopped with a short ‘no’. Off lead, Blue will potter around on his own, or try to get you to play ball, a game which once started is hard to finish! He gets tired so you need to judge this carefully. His recall is quite good and he doesn’t wander far, but he does like to know where everyone is so will try to keep you all together.

Blue is having gentle walks of up to an hour, twice a day, but this includes some time playing ball — the actual length of walk is about a mile or so. Blue needs to lose some more weight so his foster carers have been gradually building up his walks. His enthusiasm far outweighs his current physical ability!

Good in the car and out and about: Blue travels well in the car. He is good in public places, the pub, and other people’s homes.

Blue likes…: Being around people; Pottering around the garden; Walks and playing retrieve with his ball; Sleeping under your chair; Treats and food in general.

Blue dislikes…: Not much really. He’s not too keen on visiting the vet, or small spaces.

Blue’s perfect home: Given his age and soft, calm nature, Blue’s foster carers believe that he would be best suited to a quieter but active home, with a reasonable size garden and adopters that will be around for a good part of the day. Regular garden breaks and at least twice daily exercise are a must for Blue.

Health notes: Blue is vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea-treated. He is not neutered, but the vet was reluctant to do this operation at this time given his age and stiffness. The stiffness is in his back end, and the muscles in his rear legs are a bit weak due to him being overweight and a lack of exercise in his past. However, now that Blue has lost some weight, his foster carers are gradually building up his walks and he is going for longer every day (trying to stop him going for a longer walk is the only problem!).

Foster carers’ summary of Blue: “Blue is a very sweet natured and soft Collie who just likes to please. He loves being in contact with humans and enjoys his walks and play time enormously. He has fitted into our home routine very quickly and is accepted by the other dogs. When awake he is very alert and always watching you, but he does sleep in his bed or on the floor in any room. At night he just sleeps in his bed or at the bottom of the stairs. He is very intelligent, curious and learns quickly and has a reasonable grasp of basic commands. Blue would fit into many homes without any fuss at all.”

Clive – 14 year old male Terrier Cross

Clive is a cute 14 year old Terrier Cross who was saved from the pound by an associate of the Oldies Club and is now in an Oldies Club foster home in Aldridge, West Midlands, waiting for someone to offer him a permanent home. Clive has probably never known home comforts. He lived outside for 14 years and then his owner left him at the pound. But Clive has taken to the indoor life like a duck to water and he has really blossomed in the peace and quiet of his foster home. In fact, his foster carer says: “I have never seen such a quick improvement in a dog!”

Settled quickly: It took Clive a couple of days to realise where the garden is, what time he gets fed, and the general routine. And he knew where the treats were kept within about an hour!

Fine to be left but appreciates company: Clive can be left for a few hours and he just sleeps. He isn’t destructive and doesn’t bark. However, after a what has probably been a solitary existence, Clive is now appreciating having company and so his foster carer feels he would blossom with someone who is around a lot of the time, or a part-time worker.

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Likes calm dogs: Clive is fine with sociable dogs but, through fear, will grumble at large bouncy dogs if they run at him. He would be happy to live with a quiet dog, but would be best fed separately as he inhales his food and sometimes forgets his manners and tries to join in with the other dog’s feast! He isn’t aggressive if you move him away but is very keen to get back and see if they have left any scraps. He would enjoy being able to share a bed with a calm dog. He gets on well with the resident dog at his foster home but she doesn’t really interact with him and he would like a partner to cuddle!

Unknown with cats: There are no cats in Clive’s foster home. When he sees cats outside he stares at them but doesn’t lunge or bark. His foster carer has never heard him bark!

Fine when meeting children but enjoys peace: Clive has met a few children from about 6 years old upwards, out and about. He doesn’t mind them petting him but he needs his rest so wouldn’t be happy living with young children. He is also deaf so wouldn’t want to be startled. We therefore think it best that any children in Clive’s new home are aged 14 years plus.

Enjoying on-lead walks: Clive isn’t let off the lead as he is very deaf. He now gets a little excited about going out and pulls a bit to start. He is happiest with a 15-minute ‘tootle’ three times a day. He greets dogs nicely unless they come charging at him and then he just grumbles and attempts to get away. He walks very speedily now on his little legs and his foster carer thinks he would really enjoy an off lead run in a safe enclosed area as he is starting to try to run after his foster mum’s dog!

Good in the car: Clive is interested in the journey at first then he settles down. He doesn’t whine or cry.

Clive’s favourite pastimes: Eating! Watching you cook and prepare food. Having treats –- he would be a little piggy if allowed! He is not at all interested in toys but this may be because he hasn’t had access to them in the past: he may learn to enjoy a gentle game in time. He loves his bed!

Clive’s dislikes: Clive seems to just accept whatever happens to him. He has had to have a few baths and although he doesn’t enjoy them he doesn’t protest. He does get worried by big dogs running at him. As he is deaf he didn’t bother at all about the New Year’s Eve fireworks, and he doesn’t hear the door if someone knocks!

Clive’s perfect home: Clive’s foster carer tells us: “He needs a quiet home, with people who are prepared to be patient with him and gain his trust. I suspect he has led a very solitary life and although he enjoys attention he also sometimes enjoys being quiet on his own so he wouldn’t want to be in a very busy environment with lots going on. But, as he has spent all his life outside on his own without human company, he really deserves a home where someone is around a fair bit to show him what life in a loving home can be like. Clive isn’t a ‘needy’ dog; he will just be grateful for any time you have spare to give him attention. He needs to have a carpet or rug to step on to when he gets up after sleeping for a while else he will lose his grip. He is OK on laminate/wooden flooring once he has got moving but in a home with this type of flooring he would need some rugs dotted about to help his mobility.”

Health notes: Clive is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea-treated. He had very scaly, dry, itchy skin when he arrived, but this is much better due to a change of diet to a hypoallergenic food. This food will need to be continued, but it is readily available (Naturediet). He has had several Malaseb baths to treat his coat and this should be continued every few months. He did scratch and lick his paws excessively before his diet change, and sometimes he will do this for short periods, but he stops if you distract him. Clive has a few skin tags that appear to be harmless. He has arthritis and limps slightly, so may need medication in the future, but his mobility has improved greatly in a short time with Omega 3 and Glucosamine supplements, a good diet, comfy bed and being indoors! He has no problem trotting along quickly and there is still plenty of get up and go left in Clive.

Foster carer’s summary:
“Clive is endearing, greedy, and curious. At first, Clive appears a very serious little dog that, possibly due to his deafness, stares intently at you, waiting to see what will happen next! He didn’t wag his little stump of a tail at all at first – this may be due to arthritis as much as anything else – and didn’t always greet you when you come in, but he is starting to realise it is OK to do that, and the stump is now wagging! He is starting to show his character and often comes for fuss; he is quiet but makes a little grunting noise when you rub his ears. Clive gets so relaxed sometimes when you’re fussing him and leans against your legs; if you move your legs he almost falls over as he goes into a trance like state of enjoyment! He has not had the best life, and expects nothing from you, but looks pleasantly surprised with attention and treats! He doesn’t go upstairs and happily sleeps downstairs. He is housetrained but may need to go out very early in the morning, and be taken out with the promise of a treat, until he knows his routine! He does follow you around sometimes like a typical busy little terrier but as soon as he realises that there is not much going on he just goes back to bed. He is very easy to care for and I hope one day he realises he deserves his comfy bed, cuddles and all the things most people’s dogs take for granted!

I think Clive would like to find a special person to devote himself to and I think he may be building up to asking for a cuddle on the sofa! He asks and wants for very little but I am sure will become a really loving companion once he knows he is home for good. It would be so easy to keep Clive but I do think he would prefer to live with a dog that interacts a bit more with him and, although I come home and walk him at lunchtime, I think he would benefit more from living with either a part-time worker or someone who was at home more.”

Dave – 13 year old male Jack Russell Terrier Cross

Dave is a sweet 13 year old Jack Russell Terrier Cross who has returned to Oldies Club care after 5 months in a home. Dave is now in an Oldies Club foster home in Maidstone, Kent, waiting for someone to offer him a permanent home.Dave settled into his foster home within a couple of weeks. On the first 2 nights he had accidents, but this seemed to be because his foster carer rises a little later than he was used to. Now he is used to his new routine, there are no accidents.

Dave has been left with his foster carer’s dog for up to 4 hours and, although he wants a lot of fuss when his foster carer returns, there have been no problems. However, Dave wouldn’t be happy to be left for long periods every day.  Dave has accepted his foster carer’s laid back dog. In fact, he doesn’t like to be completely alone, and so would like to share his new home with a laid-back canine companion. He appears to be worried when he meets other dogs in the park though, especially larger dogs, and he hangs around his foster carer and whimpers until they have passed.

Dave hasn’t lived with cats previously and he would probably try to chase them. His previous foster home found that he speeded up when he saw cats on walks and he liked to watch their rabbits. Dave is fine with children and could live with ones of about 10+ years old. However, Dave does enjoy peace and quiet so wouldn’t want to live with rowdy children.

Dave’s foster carer tells us “He is absolutely brilliant on walks. He trots along beside me and is very obedient and no trouble to get back on the lead. When I take my mobility scooter, I believe he thinks he is a husky and is pulling me along! In the park, I let him off the lead but all he wants to do is play fetch with his ball. He looks forward to his walk and in general we go out for about an hour a day. He always seems happy to come home and curl up for a nap afterwards“.

Dave lies on the back seat and does not jump about at all. He is happy to wear a car harness. Dave’s favourite pastimes: Playing ball (“he thinks he is a lot younger than he really is“) and being fussed (“he will keep whining at me in the mornings until he has had his morning fuss!“)

Dave would be happiest in a quiet household rather than one with a hectic lifestyle. He enjoys company and so if his new owner isn’t able to be with him most of the time, Dave would be happiest with a calm, friendly dog for company.

Dave is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and flea and worm treated. He has some fatty lumps which, whilst they look a bit unsightly, are not giving him any problems, according to the vet. His eyesight is failing with age and his teeth are crooked but again are not too bad.

Foster carer’s summary of Dave: Affectionate, obedient, young-at-heart, playful. Dave is a pretty intelligent boy. I feel he would give all his loyalty to someone who will love him and just give him the attention he needs, which is not a lot!

Zak – 12 year old male Labrador Cross

Zak is a gorgeous, active 12 year old Labrador Cross who is in an Oldies Club foster home in Dukinfield, Tameside, East Manchester. Zak came into Oldies Club care after his owner had to go away and leave Zak. Zak seemed to settle at his foster home almost straight away. He is happy to be left for a few hours but he does like to dig at carpets and so he needs to be crated or left in a room where if he decides to do some digging he won’t damage the floor. Zak could happily live with part-time workers. He could live with full-time workers but they would need to hire a dog walker as Zak wouldn’t be happy with just a midday garden break – he needs a proper walk as he is a very active boy for his age.

Zak is good with other dogs but isn’t a fan of young bouncy dogs. He will tolerate them for a while but then he’s had enough. He could live with another dog provided it was older and relaxed about the house

Zak lived with cats in his last home and they had no problems. His foster carer has no cats. Zak has lived with children in the past. His foster carer thinks he would be best with older children as he likes a quiet house.

k’s foster carer tells us: “Zak is brilliant on walks! He’s fantastic for his age. He likes a good sniff and will walk off to the nearest bushes to sniff. He is being walked with my 2 dogs and we have no issues at all. He doesn’t approach other dogs and doesn’t seem interested in them. He likes to have a paddle and will walk for hours and not get tired. His recall is good. I feel his vision isn’t what it used to be and you can see him looking for you when called. Once he’s found you he comes straight back. He’s never run off to see another dog. He has met livestock – cows, horses and sheep – and isn’t bothered by them in the slightest“. Zak enjoys two long walks per day (up to an hour each time) and is very keen to go for a walk.

Zak is good in the car and will stay where he’s put, however he does ‘sing’ a little in the car. Other than walks, Zak loves attention and is a very affectionate dog. He doesn’t seem interested in toys. He will often wait to be invited to sit next to his foster carer for a cuddle.

Zak doesn’t like raised voices. His foster carer says: I told one of my boys off and Zak was cowering in the corner, but this is getting better.

Zak’s perfect home: Zak would be happy in a home with older children, or no children, where he will get plenty of attention. A family that enjoys walking would be perfect as Zak loves the great outdoors. He would be OK with a family that works but he would love to have someone home all day to spoil him. He could live with other dogs as long as they are not young and bouncy.

Zak is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea-treated. At his vet-check he was found to be in good health and the vet was amazed at Zak’s great condition for his age.

Foster carer’s summary: “Zak is a great dog who loves attention. He enjoys nothing more than a cuddle next to you on the sofa. He loves his walks and is happy to be out for hours at a time and doesn’t tire easily. He’s great with other dogs and gets on with any dog he meets.”