In my years of fostering, I have learned something truly valuable: senior dogs are special.
In fact, I don’t know what I love more about them: their calm presence, their wise-looking appearance, or their deeply-rooted gratitude for every single pat on the head.
Be that as it may, their overall appearance is something I definitely do not take for granted. Sadly, they’re often the ones left behind the most, passed over for younger pups.
That’s exactly what happened to Bo, a nine-year-old Labrador-Pit-Bull mix from Kentucky. After being surrendered to a local shelter, Bo, once a family dog, started to lose hope of ever being adopted again.
But then a man walked into the shelter, and before long, everything changed!
It Was Meant To Be
That day, Clay Bishop, a man from Louisville, Kentucky, walked into the Kentucky Animal Care Society with no particular agenda. But as soon as he saw Bo, something immediately drew him in.
Bo, already a senior, was surrendered after his owner developed an addiction problem and was placed in an assisted living rehab center. He spent almost a week without proper care, and when he finally arrived at the shelter, he was in major distress.
Bo needed days to accept the fact that his old home was gone. And now, he truly needed someone to show him kindness. Fortunately, Bishop already had a plan.
He took Bo home that very day on a foster basis. But after two weeks together, the Kentucky man realized how sweet Bo truly was. Bishop officially failed at fostering and adopted Bo for good.
“Adopting the oldest dog at one of our local shelters was the best thing my girlfriend and I ever did! Bo is 9 years young and we love his old man energy,” Bishop shared on TikTok.
Now living together, Bo spends his days surrounded by love and comfort, along with his dad and his two other doggo siblings, Boosh and Ozzy.
“Why You Should Foster”
Since adopting Bo, Bishop has made it his mission to spread one message on his social media: senior dogs, just like puppies, deserve a chance, too!
In another TikTok post starting with the text “Why you should foster the oldest dog in your local shelter,” Bishop shared an emotional reflection that touched many hearts online.
He listed all the reasons why anyone should consider fostering a senior dog, featuring Bo’s first days in his new home.
In the video, Bo is shown hanging out with his furry friends, taking cozy naps on the bed, visiting a dog park, and playing with his favorite plushie toys.
“You can show them people are good. You can show them things they have never seen. You can introduce them to new friends. You can give them toys and make their day. You can give them a cozy place to rest their head,” Bishop wrote.
It’s safe to say that, from now on, Bo lives the life he always wanted. He’s far away from the shelter noise, soaking in the beauty of life while living a calm, peaceful senior life.
Thanks to Bishop, Bo will never again have to wonder if someone wants him. He finally has a forever home.
