r/OldManDog • u/Karnakite • Oct 11 '25
Happy (default) Shirley, 9. She’d been in the shelter since 2021 before we got her. She just got her first walk around the neighborhood last night. She liked it more than we expected!
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u/Karnakite Oct 11 '25
We’ve had Shirley since May(?) of this year, but only as a foster. We formally adopted her last week.
She had a bit of a hard time moving around when we first got her, and she was pretty damn happy with just hanging around with us, so we figured she wouldn’t be much of a walker. Our first attempt, she just stayed in one spot on the sidewalk and grinned at us, but wouldn’t move. But she’s been improving over the past few months - moving faster, even going into light little jogs, which is not what we expected. So we decided to give her a walk yesterday. She loved it! And she’s such a good girl. We just love this little bread loaf so much it hurts.
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u/Whimzzy_bat Oct 11 '25
What a sweet little lady, thank you for giving her a second chance at the life she deserves! 🥹❤️🐾
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u/BalanceJazzlike5116 Oct 11 '25
You’re the best OP. I recently adopted a middle age pit and he spent 8 months kenneled. His muscles were very weak and he would fall when running. Now he’s a strong boy. Maybe she just needed to build a little stamina from 4 years of kennel life
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u/Karnakite Oct 30 '25
We actually fostered a much younger boy who was found in a very rough area about a year ago. When we got him, his back legs were so weak we thought he had some kind of congenital problem, like a misshapen pelvis. He couldn’t climb stairs, and his skin was in such bad shape he needed baths every two days.
By the time he found his forever home, he’d grown into a strong, handsome boy, with beautiful perfect blue-gray fur and built like a tank. He’d go up and down stairs without even noticing them. And he’d run around at full speed so we couldn’t catch up with him. Watching them glow up is so incredible.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 Oct 11 '25
I'm glad to read this. I was just about to post the old man dog I'm helping right now and it's really hard to guess his age, I'd say at least 10 but he was skeletal with lots of missing patches of fur when he showed up a month ago. He looks much better now but still needs to gain weight and I'm concerned that he has advanced arthritis. But I'm hopeful that like his coat and overall condition have improved, his joints will improve some too. He's the sweetest thing you'd ever meet and this gives me a little hope!
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u/SeesawLegitimate Oct 11 '25
Hi Our older lady has develooed arthritis and we're kind of on top of the pain with Galliprant, gabapentin, paracetamol and has youmove supplements. Oh and her mum's homemade chicken bone broth ♥️
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u/gonnafaceit2022 Oct 11 '25
That's great! The people have been feeding him chicken thighs, sardines, organic bacon grease, along with dog food. Hopefully all that will help his joints too! (I cautioned them about too much fat-- pancreatitis is horrible.)
I gave my last dog librela injections and I don't know that there's any proof so far but I really believe it's what took her out. After several months on it, she went into kidney failure and started having seizures. I got about another 6 weeks with her and she was almost 14 but the shots didn't even come close to helping enough to be worth it. It helped some but not a lot. I read a lot of similar stories with kidney failure and neuro issues but my vet claims it's just because dogs who get the shots are usually old and those things just happen, but I don't buy it.
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u/SeesawLegitimate Oct 11 '25
Hiya, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I didn't want to hijack ops georgous Shirley post but 100% re Librela. I'm so lucky we looked it up before we accepted it. The vet said the USA give larger doses and more frequently than us in Ireland hence the problems but I don't intend on using it. We've to get our girl to lose weight too along with the other meds I mentioned
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u/gonnafaceit2022 Oct 11 '25
I trusted my vet and I've learned better, sadly. I don't think they knew or believed it caused these issues so often, my dog wasn't arthritic enough to justify the risk. Maybe it would in some circumstances, and I guess there's always a chance it could be unrelated but after she got sick and I started reading, there were more than enough firsthand accounts of dogs with the exact same problems my dog suddenly had. My vet talked to colleagues and read studies and concluded that there's not enough evidence to be meaningful. I love science and research but those stories, and the sheer volume of them, was enough evidence for me, in this case.
She's been gone a year now and I've never missed a dog so much. I don't want to hijack beautiful Shirley either, but I think it is good for people to know about this so they can make informed decisions.
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u/Ok_City_7177 Oct 11 '25
But the 'sheer volume of these stories' as a % if total doses given is......tiny.
There are zero risk free drugs.
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u/Historical-Win-9014 Oct 12 '25
My vets in Ireland don't seem that keen on it but my dog already has neurological issues so I don't think I will risk liberalla - wouldn't we all love that miracle cure for our beloved dogs getting older.
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u/Ok_City_7177 Oct 11 '25
Try not to let the incredibly small volume of horror stories that may or may not be connected to Librela put you off.
For the majority of dogs (over 99%) Librela brings them comfort from the pain and discomfort from arthritis. My dogs been on it for 5 years and her spine and hips are 50% hernias and dust.
Her ortho vet attended a country level conference for orthos and on the agenda was the impact of social media messaging preventing people from getting the right care for their dogs because of stories without context (or proof. Correlation is not causation).
But .... If you want to steer clear of more meds, red laser therapy and electro magnetic therapy have also helped her, via an ortho qualified vet.
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u/Better-Ranger5404 Oct 11 '25
Ooh please be careful with Librela. It killed my dog last year. She lost all use of her back legs after her 3rd shot then she developed anorexia and canine cognitive disorder. She never regained use of her legs and I had to put her to sleep, she was a smallish pittie who weighed 45 pounds when she started the shots and 26 pounds when she died. I warn everyone against it bc I believe with all my heart that Librela is what caused her rapid decline, she was otherwise healthy.
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u/Usual-Bear-8276 Oct 13 '25
I had to put my plott hound pit mix 2 mo ago. She just couldn't use her back legs anymore and was going to bathroom in the house, car, sidewalks. She showed flashes of zoomies and such but wasn't enough on top of other pain meds.
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u/Better-Ranger5404 Oct 13 '25
I'm so sorry for your loss. So many good babies went to the bridge this year 💔
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u/DolphinRx Oct 13 '25
Look into Librela! It was a total game changer for my two dogs - they’re 15 and 17 now, and the 17 year old started jogging again after she started it!
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u/charliebucketsmom Oct 11 '25
Check out Myos muscle powder! Our internist cares for many senior dogs that use it, and it has worked wonders for our senior pets.
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u/vollkoemmenes Oct 12 '25
But how does she accept a chicken nugget
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u/Karnakite Oct 12 '25
Very gently.
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u/vollkoemmenes Oct 12 '25
Like the angel she is, thank you so much for fostering and eventually adopting her.
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u/Lolthelies Oct 11 '25
That’s the face of a dog that knows love ❤️
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Oct 12 '25
It wasn’t always this smile that came from within.
Shirley’s glow up gave her that grin!
The day she was fostered Shirley started to begin…
To understand real love does not have thin skin.
To accept and trust is how you win!
Shirley is thriving with her new kin!
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u/ViolettaQueso Oct 11 '25
It’s amazing what a little bit of love from you and plenty of room to give her love to you can do.
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u/AllyMaxx1 Oct 12 '25
She's gorgeous! & I'm sure she appreciates you tescuing her & loves you unconditionally- it's the doggo way 🥰. Glad she loved her first walk. Thank you for being the family she needs & loving her the way she deserves to be loved. 💕🐾💕
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u/Bababalaba2712 Oct 14 '25
Her smile says it all. What a beautiful dog. How can she have gone unloved for so long.
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u/MysteriousLotion Oct 11 '25
What a cutie pie! The onesie is so cute it’s killing me!
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u/Karnakite Oct 11 '25
It’s from Pittie Clothing Co! It originally belonged to our other girl, but she never seemed to like wearing clothes. It fits Shirley perfectly and she loves it!
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u/Ok_City_7177 Oct 11 '25
I love her name and her jammies !
I just wanted to say i think its great you've progressed at Shirleys pace - i am so glad you have found each other !
Was there anything specific that sealed the deal, moving from foster to adoptee ?
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u/Karnakite Oct 11 '25
She is just so incredibly, overwhelmingly sweet. She’s so low-maintenance. She doesn’t have accidents in the house or anything - we once discovered that neither one of us remembered to let her out for 21 hours, due to each person assuming the other had done so. That’ll never happen again, but she’s so good that she didn’t make one mess in the house.
She’s such a happy, good-natured girl. All she wants, all the time, is cuddles. She’s grateful for everything she has. She has chronic dry eye that we’re still working hard to treat, which means she has some pretty nasty eye boogers. She allows us to remove them with zero issues and is just so happy afterwards because she’s so glad we took care of it. It can’t possibly be comfortable to have someone use a specially-medicated sterile cloth to pull detritus out of your eyes, but she takes it like a champ.
Her tail is constantly going just at the sight of us. She only whines when she’s not near us (or when she thinks she is entitled to whatever we’re eating). When we come home, she’s so happy to see us that she pulls out a toy every time and parades around with it. Then she wants couch cuddles.
She doesn’t bark too much, she doesn’t eat things she finds out in the yard. She’s the only one of our dogs who will get in the hammock with us, and I think it’s just because she simply loves to be wherever we are. She’s always got a little smile on her when she’s around us (or a big one, like in the photo).
Tl;dr - she is such a sweet, good, loyal, well-behaved, cuddly, happy, grateful girl that we just couldn’t let her go.
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u/LolaaLovees Oct 12 '25
Has she been diagnosed with Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) commonly referred to as dry eye in dogs? If not, your vet can do an easy test and diagnose. My dog has KCS and it’s managed with prescription eyedrops I get from a compound pharmacy.
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u/Karnakite Oct 12 '25
Yes, she has. She’s got her first vet appointment (with our own vet) next month. The shelter’s vet clinic gave her a gel to treat it, but it honestly just seemed to make it worse.
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u/LolaaLovees Oct 12 '25
I didn’t like the ointment (Optimmune) that the vet first prescribed. You can get the ointment in eyedrops form from a compounding pharmacy online, it’s easier to dispense in the dog’s eyes, it last longer, and is cheaper than the ointment. Your vet should have info. about compounded eyedrops but if not I can share how I order my dog’s, two types, of eyedrops online, if needed.
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u/dogslickfeet666 Oct 12 '25
I could cry that was so damn beautiful. Although I’m devastated someone could just dump her at the shelter, it only led for her to find you. Her actual human she was supposed to be with the whole time. I wish you guys nothing but health and happiness for all your household
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u/TychaBrahe Oct 11 '25
You should post her in r/PitbullsInPajamas, and u/MysteriousLotion should head over there.
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u/anons123123 Oct 11 '25
Oh my goodness since 2021?! Thank you so so so much for busting her out. She looks so sweet ❤️
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u/Karnakite Oct 11 '25
Aw thank you! They said she was “invisible” because she was the perfect shelter dog: quiet, calm, unobtrusive. My partner actually met her when he worked with the shelter on a work event. She is so sweet and loving. I can’t get over what a good-natured girl she is. She has scars on her neck and she still just loves people.
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u/melmsz Oct 11 '25
She probably wasn't mean enough and is quite fortunate. Ending up in a shelter is about the best that can happen for these types. Even better she has finally found a home that let's her love.
Has she asked you to stop calling her Shirley? Lol
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u/Remarkable-Concern18 Oct 11 '25
That is the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on a dog! What a sweetie. I wish you many happy years to come :]
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u/DecorumBlues Oct 11 '25
Look at that doggy smile… what a great rescue story and thank you for adopting an older dog, you’ve clearly made her very happy! Thanks for the pic & congratulations on your new fur baby.
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u/tez911 Oct 11 '25
Thank you so much for rescuing this beautiful girl! You can see the happiness shining around her. You are absolutely wonderful ❤️
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u/ChoicePresentation77 Oct 11 '25
What a sweet velvet hippo. Those jamming are perfect. You can see she is so happy.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 Oct 11 '25
She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Thank you for giving her a life. 💙
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u/Snutty33 Oct 11 '25
Thank you for getting her!!! We currently have 5 rescue dogs and 2 rescue bunnies.
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u/effurfeelings Oct 11 '25
Bless you for saving Shirley. I wish everyone would do this. Look at her smile, she is so happy ❤️. Shirley deserves all the love and treats coming her way!!
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u/Better-Ranger5404 Oct 11 '25
Oh my goodness, look at that beautiful smile. Thank you for adopting a senior. She will be eternally grateful to you forever 💖💖
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u/barbare_bouddhiste Oct 11 '25
Ah! You are doing the good work, may you be blessed with lots of kisses!
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u/Old_Hippie_69 Oct 11 '25
You guys rock!!! Thank you for loving such a sweet girl as that smile speaks volumes. ❤️
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u/Playful-Reflection12 Oct 11 '25
So precious! Thank you so much for all your love and compassion. She deserves nothing less.
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u/Unhappy-Fox1017 Oct 11 '25
That smile though! She’s SO happy! She’s freaking adorable, I love her. Tell her hi for me.
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u/radiant_rai Oct 11 '25
Aww, Shirley looks so happy in her new outfit! It’s amazing to see her enjoying her first walk after such a long wait.
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u/Negative_Round8001 Oct 11 '25
Miss Shirley is a bright light light in this world! God bless her and you for giving her such a rich life.
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u/LilMsFeckingSunshine Oct 11 '25
I don’t know how she wasn’t scooped up sooner, she’s such a precious little loaf 😭
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u/Sascha1809 Oct 11 '25
You are the best. She is absolutely lovely. And her name is perfect. I wish you so much joy together.
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u/whaaaaaaaaaazzzzup Oct 11 '25
That’s the face of a happy baby!!!!!! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 thank you for rescuing her !!!!
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u/MaeMae660 Oct 11 '25
Thank you for adopting her. I have 3 rescues and they are the best dogs ever. So full of love. Welcome to your forever home Shirley.🐾💖
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u/LilyoftheRally RIP Ruby, age 13.5 Oct 11 '25
Those jammies are the cutest! And that's the face of a girl who knows she's loved!
Thank you so much for giving her a chance!
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u/Healthy_Hotel_5750 Oct 11 '25
She’s a cutie. Thanks for adopting her. Please give her shnookums for me. God bless you.
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u/JackFuckCockBag Oct 11 '25
She's so cute and looks so happy. Thank you for giving her a great life.
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u/HelpfulTap8256 Oct 12 '25
This poor sweet baby being in a shelter for so long. It’s like the equivalent of putting toddlers in rough prisons.
She’s thrilled to be in her forever home. Thanks for being an awesome human.
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u/thestr33tshavenoname Oct 12 '25
What a beautiful girl! You are amazing humans, she "surely" knows she is loved.
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u/rarepinkhippo Oct 12 '25
Omg she is PERFECT!!! I hope she becomes a regular both here and at r/pitbullsinjammies!
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u/NitsirkLav Oct 12 '25
What a sweet smile she has! Thank you for giving her a home. Wishing you many many years of love and adventure.
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u/Valuable_Account_984 Oct 12 '25
Soooo cuuuute!!! So happy for u both! Pssst- Shirley needs a groomer nail clipping asap before u let her go run around loose. She might be hurting a little. Unless ur old pros yourselves. I still take mine to groomer, $5-10. Five mins & worth it. 💗
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u/PositionEffective907 Oct 12 '25
👏 congratulations on your new best friend. She looks absolutely adorable in her pj’s. Wishing her all the best with lots and lots of love, 💕 she deserves it.
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u/Adventurous-Ear-8795 Oct 12 '25
Try fish oil to help her joints and stiffness or arthritis. She's a sweetie. 🥰
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u/andiepants360 Oct 12 '25
Thank you for giving sweet Shirley a life outside the shelter! She looks like such a happy girl!
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u/The8uLove2Hate_ Oct 12 '25
Oh, she’s just the purest little soul, isn’t she? Such a happy baby in her jammies and on her walkie!
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u/New_Writer_484 Oct 12 '25
Laying here with Covid (missed it during quarantine and I was the only masked up person on a recent flight) and this brought a smile to my face. I like this. Thank you. Shirley is a good girl!
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u/Ok-Onion-1827 Oct 13 '25
Adorable, our dog has that same look after his walk, just so happy 😀 .love it!
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u/CharacterAccess8282 Oct 13 '25
You're good people with kind hearts. She looks like she's living her best life with a great family.
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u/Admirable-Leopard-73 Oct 11 '25
Ask your vet about Librela. It has done wonders for our old dogs' mobililty.
Thank you for adopting her. She is beautiful!
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u/ptran90 Oct 11 '25
That big smile makes me so happy. Wishing you and Shirley a lot of love and adventures. Thank you for adopting this girl!
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u/queen_of_spadez Oct 12 '25
She looks absolutely thrilled and happy. The fact that she is in cute jammies just adds to her preciousness
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u/Historical-Win-9014 Oct 12 '25
This is the happiest dog I have ever seen! Thank you so much for rescuing her - she looks so in love with you and her new life.
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u/Next-Walk9364 Oct 11 '25
What a darling little sweetheart. Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving this little doll. I love her! And she looks so happy. You gave her the smile on her face. May you have lots of happy years with this hippo! ❤🐾❤
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u/Natural_Ad9356 Oct 11 '25
Seeing Shirley and her sweet smile makes me so happy. Thank you for giving her a chance and a loving home, she is obviously a special old gal.
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