WITH this weekend celebrating Grandparents Day on Sunday, October 1, Dogs Trust Shrewsbury is shining a spotlight on its ‘Old Age Pooches’ in the hope that people with a dog-shaped hole in their lives will open their homes as well as their hearts to a gorgeous golden oldie. 

Since June this year, almost 40 per cent of people wanting to adopt a dog from Dogs Trust were looking for a four-legged friend under six months, compared to just 10 per cent looking for a dog aged 8 and over.

But the Dogs Trust Shrewsbury team is hoping that their golden oldies will buck the trend and prove every dog really does have its day.   

Sue Bromley, assistant manager at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury, said: “Sometimes older dogs can be overlooked in favour of younger pups, but they deserve just as much attention and care from new owners as their younger counterparts.   

“There are lots of benefits of rehoming an Old Age Pooch. Often older dogs don’t need quite as much exercise and although they can be a little less energetic, senior canines can be just as fun and playful.     

“Older dogs are more likely to be fully house-trained and, as they are older and wiser, they usually know other training basics too, but you can certainly still teach an older dog new tricks.   

“They can also make the perfect napping partner and enjoy a good snooze and a snuggle.”  

One golden oldie currently patiently waiting to find a new family of his own is 17-year-old Jack Russell, Marley.

Marley, who the team describe as a true gentleman, arrived at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury in May after his owner sadly passed away and unfortunately he hasn’t yet found a new someone to love.  

He is still full of life and adores people and has proved himself to be the perfect houseguest in his foster home, but a forever home where he can spend his twilight years is what he really needs. He would like to be the only pet in the home, can live with children of secondary school age and he would like his family to be around most of the time as he loves to snuggle up with people. 

Sue says: “Marley loves to say hello to everyone and has a starring role in his foster carers life; he regularly goes on holiday in their caravan and really enjoys his day trips out.

“As he is now 17, he can't walk very far, very fast, but still has a spring in his step and really enjoys pottering along taking his time to have a good sniff.

“He absolutely loves having fuss and attention so doesn’t like to be left on his own, and being an older boy, he can get confused if people aren’t around,  

“We adore him, as do his foster carers, but however much they love him being part of their lives, they, and we, would love it even more if Marley found a forever home of his own this Grandparents Day.” 

As an older gentleman, Marley does have some medical needs which will be discussed with adopters who would like to welcome Marley into their lives. If you think you could be the family for Marley and would like to help Dogs Trust Shrewsbury show that age is just a number, please visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/shrewsbury