An Open Letter to the Parent of a Senior Pet

I never thought watching a pet grow old would be easy but the reality is so much more bittersweet than I ever imagined. On the one hand, I am grateful for each day knowing there are too many pets - especially Scottish Terriers - who don't live long enough to experience the golden years. I celebrate this feat and honor those who couldn't stay with us longer by doing my best to make the most of every day I have with my senior pets so when that inevitable day comes, they truly can rest in peace and I might find some small consolation in the fact that I helped them live a life well-lived. 

While a part of me rejoices over the good fortune that has allowed me years of companionship, there's another part of me that frets about what is coming next and when. I'm sure you've felt this, too. Though our senior pets slow down with age, it is as if time speeds up during the golden years. Some days, I feel as though I'm looking at an hourglass - only the grains of sand remaining are invisible and only can be seen once they pass through to the bottom half. It takes effort to put these thoughts aside and refocus on what matters most: the senior pets right in front of us.  

In some ways, the learning curve of caring for a senior pet is steep (new routines and schedules, medications, more frequent vet visits, etc.) but in other ways, it remains exactly the same. After all, it boils down to what most pet parents do best: love and care. You get the hang of your senior pet's lifestyle soon enough and though I can't promise things will be fun and games always, I can assure you there will be ample opportunity to laugh, create new memories and add some color to those years that otherwise might not have looked so golden.

Yes, things can get hairy and even a little scary at times. I tell you this not to discourage you but to keep you strong for the sake of your senior pets. It is an honor and a privilege to be there for them in ways they have been and will be for you and others whose lives they've touched throughout the years. At times, you may question your strength or think it is simply too hard to care for a senior pet - to which I say: think again. Giving up on a senior pet is all too common and has devastating effects, as evidenced by the thousands of overcrowded shelters across the country.

To know the love of a senior pet is to know the love of an old friend, one that sweetens with age. You can see it in the way they soak up the last bits of sun at the end of a summer day, how they savor all things that taste good and when their eyes brighten the moment they see you. These are the imprints a senior pet will leave on your heart long after he or she is gone. And you'll find yourself a more complete person as a result of having loved and cared for a senior pet who taught you to practice gratitude, enjoy the little things, show each other a little grace and live every day as if it was your last.