Why would anyone want a senior dog?

I've taken to calling him Arby rather than RW, because it was hard to say and I had no idea how he came by it anyway. He responds to Arby as well as he does to RW, which is to say not very well. But, aside from the weird name, why would anyone want to adopt a senior dog?

He's 11 years old. Maybe he's hard of hearing, maybe he's just stubborn, but he does what he wants to do. He's a generic mixed breed, no raving beauty, something that a friend used to refer to as a "Western Goochland Brown Dog," a reference to the generic mutts that populated the countryside. He now has 12 fewer teeth than he started with, and he looks worried most of the time. Although he's a smallish mixed breed dog which are known for their longevity, at 11 years old his future years can probably be counted on one hand.

But, he's fully house trained and crate trained. He's fine with other dogs and even cats. He mostly minds his own business, and a little bit of yours. He's not looking to run away and he doesn't require a lot of exercise. He doesn't need a lot of food and he's not a picky eater. He will be a constant companion to the person who is his chosen one.

Once he establishes a routine, he sticks to it and is a very easy dog to have around. He won't make you feel guilty about being a couch potato, he'll just lie on the floor nearby to keep you company. He won't even judge you for the crappy television shows you watch or the trashy novels you read. He'll sleep in late if that's your thing, or go to bed early. He will alert you to any sounds that aren't normal and certainly if someone comes to your door. He's quite happy in a large, comfortable crate, he feels safe there.

Arby lost his best human friend--the man he had known his entire life, the man he had grown old with--but he'll make room in his heart for a new one if he can find someone willing to do the same for him. Feel free to share this and feel free to contact me with any questions, vadogrescue@gmail.com. Arby would be happy to come for a meet and greet in your home.

Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.