I am disappointed to learn that ageism is alive and flourishing in animal rescue associations. Let me start by saying to all of you who practice it – one day you will be a victim of ageism – you will be ‘old’!
Now I’ll ask you all a question – if I applied to your association to adopt a dog, would you refuse me – on the basis that I’m 64 years old, been married for 41 years, work from home, had dogs all my life? Would you?
In comparison, you’d accept a thirty-something who is either in a relationship or been married for, say, 9 years, and works to earn a living. Yes, you would. But in, say, 2 year’s time, their relationship is severely fractured, neither party can keep the dog………..what happens to the dog?
I know of more than one situation where this has happened, including to one of my foster dogs, who was quite traumatised when he arrived at my home. He had a friend he made in the refuge, and the two dogs were homed together. The couple separated a year later, both dogs had to be put up for adoption again – and were adopted by two different families.
So, tell me, why is the latter situation preferable to a couple like my husband and I?
Ageism is alive and well, as a couple who have been in contact with me can confirm. They live on mainland Europe, are a couple of years older than me, been together forever, have three lovely dogs and want to take a galgo. What’s wrong with them that they are turned down, dismissed before even a home visit? Answer – the French association practices ageism! Shame on them!
I don’t class myself as ‘old’ – I ride my horse, I go line dancing, I walk the meadows with the dogs, I organise fundraising events – hey, don’t you know? 60 is the new 50! By the law of averages – yes, I could die in 5 years time. Also, by the law of averages, a 30-something could be dead tomorrow in a car crash!
So I would say to all you associations in charge of rehoming rescued dogs – remember, one day you will be ‘old’!
I know with which couple I’d rather rehome a dog.
Comments
17 responses to “Ageism – alive and practiced on mainland Europe!”
Ridiculous! The age of someone has no foundation on whether they’re able to care for a dog, and if something were to happen to the guardian then there should be a system in place where the dog is then cared for by the adoption agency it was received from, if they’re unable to be placed in another suitable home.
I agree entirely with John. I am the same age as you Beryl, have had dogs for years and have re-homes. Any reputable charity makes the proviso that if the owner is unable to keep the dog then it is returned to them That ruling is supposed to be in place irrespective of the age of the adopter. Some older people prefer an older dog which some people would overlook.
Bonjour
Agree with you both. Ive already left instructions as to what happens to my dogs, horses and cat if something happens to me – and also if something happens to both hubbie and I. As you can tell from the tone of my post, I am disgusted with the association which turned the application down before even doing a home visit etc.
Thanks for commenting.
Beryl
Hi Beryl
I was amazed by your posting. How can they justify their decision. Surely someone of our age, with experience of dogs et and the time to look after them cant possibly be worse than some young person out at work. Unbelievable. Are you going to tell us who this is that is so prejudiced? I was hoping to have a galgo one day when I dont have so many dogs,maybe that is unlikely now. What is the world coming to.
love Dawn
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Bonjour
I knew youd feel the same as me. No, I
shant name and shame, I will email the association and give them the link to
this post, so they can read the comments – I know some of them speak
English.
I just hope that all associations read this and
take on board our comments. If they dont they are doing a lot of rescue
dogs out of forever homes. Stupid blinkered people!
Amities
Beryl
What a terribly wrong decision this rescue has made. I was so saddened to read it.
To rehome with age as a huge criteria is ridiculous. Some of the most caring, responsible pet owners are well over 60, with many in their 70s and 80s, even 90s. They often have the time, the money and most important, the experience.
Most U.K. rescues judge each case individually on its merits. We can only hope that this organisation soon does the same. To deprive an animal of a loving, caring home is completely irresponsible.
My guapo loves the kids and their chaos but Bonnie, our older galga would have suited perfectly an older quieter couple as she does get a little stressed if the kids argue. Amy also, a 3 legged galga we had, loved to cuddle up on the sofa with an elderly lady that fostered her for a while, it was a match made in heaven. I don’t understand the decision made and personally Beryl there is no other fosterer I trust more than you…
Stupid stupid
the rescues should grab people like this lady with both hands
she has years of caring for dogs wants a galgo
who are they to say no you are too old
Ummm now Tina did you ask my age when i took Roxy for long term foster
No your not having my little princess back EVER
Toni
I can’t believe this decision was made without even a home check and purely on age alone, it’s ridiculous. Older, retired (or part-time working) adopters have more time to spend with their dogs, their homes tend to be quieter, they have the experience of many years of dog ownership so are particularly suited to taking in traumatised and/or older animals. Based on this association’s criteria at 60 I wouldn’t have been able to adopt Gaby, my galga rescued by Tina of Galgos del Sol and fostered by Beryl and David in France while she did pet passport before coming to the UK. So Gaby would have missed out on a great home and a new start in life and I’d have missed out owning this wonderful dog. This association needs to rethink its criteria, or perhaps they apply this ageist policy to the dogs they rehome as well, what happens to the oldies that come into their care?
I am 64 too, and I would be very unhappy if I thought my age had any bearing on whether I would be acceptable as an adopter. I am still fit and healthy and well able to care for a dog. I am looking to re-home a dog to be company for my existing lurcher at the moment. A
decision taken on the basis of age reduces the chances of a happy re-homing for a rescue dog.
Thank you everyone for adding your protest against ageism in animal adoption to my voice! Keep your comments coming in, Im hoping all rescue and rehoming associations reading this post will take HUGE notice of all we say and remember that we oldies can be a much better bet than some younger ones!
Thanks for reading, commenting and caring
Beryl
Sadly I have heard of this happening here in the UK as well. I wish to own hounds for as long as I feel able to regardless of age the Idea that rescues will refuse me when I get to my 60`s horrifies me. What makes it all the more ridiculous is the government increasing retirement age so I`ll be perfectly fit to carry on working at 65 but too old to own a dog.
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Bonjour tous
The other point which someone made here is that, if
all association contracts are written in a similar way to the one I have with
EDL for 3 of my dogs, then if/when anything happens to me and my my hubbie, the
dogs ownership reverts back to the association.
Interesting no association – apart from Galgos del
Sol – seems to have commented?
Amities
Beryl
http://www.galgonews.com
http://www.podencopost.com
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Think some people will have to work to 66 now, or even 67, Jill?!
Yes, to be refused in your 60s after having dogs for many years is really frightening…………….
not all but most associations havnt got a clue what they are on about give every one the benifit of the doubt thats what i say especially the older people who want the dogs
Madness. As long as you love dogs and rae capable of taking care of them,whst does your age matter. There are so many homeless dos out there that I don’t think associations can afford to decriminate by age.
Maybe this association thinks that it is better for an abandoned galgo to die in the perrera rather than being rehomed with older adoptants…?
I heard that several organisations discriminate some types of galgo dogs and take preferably young, healthy, non-black bitches, but that someone discriminates the adoptants because of their age well that is new for me.
It is really sad.
There are several dogs that fit to older folks perfectly, dogs that are over 5 years of age and / or some lazier dogs for people who prefer a calmer dog…
Many middle-aged galgo dogs prefer to sleep nearly the whole day and are a superb fit for an older person.
Because of the mass breeding by the Spanish hunters there is a galgo out there for each good home offered.
A galgo that would be euthanized otherwise.