A CHAIN OF THANKS

I hope that everyone who attended the 5th Anniversary Celebration Saturday had a good time. I know I did. I can honestly say I have never seen so many boston terriers in one place at one time and I was in heaven! All adorable, all unique, and all out of shelters, puppy mills, abandon houses, and other bad situations. I would have driven twice the distance for half the kisses.

I would like to start a chain of thanks for ALL of the people who made this event possible. Thank you Roberta, Betsy, Patsy, Laura, Dawn, Alex, Carla, Laurie, Elaine, Donna, Mary, Jen, Kate and the list goes on and on. Thank you for organizing the event, the adoption boards, the memorial table, the e-vites, website information, the silent auction, organizing the donations, coordinating transports with the event, and so much more. Thank you to all those who came with their hearts and wallets open with donations and purchases of all that was available to sell and to those who brought former fosters, now forever babies so we could see them one more time. Thank you to all those who open their homes to foster so we can continue to rescue those in need. Special thanks to those who become forever fosters to those babies who for age or health reasons cannot be adopted knowing that they will be the ones to help them over the bridge. Thank you to the families of our members whose lives are impacted in so many ways every day and their support to this rescue.

Sometimes we forget to say how much we appreciate those who do so much and who have a part in the amazing success of this wonderful group. So, if you would like to add to my short list of names and contributions, please post a comment so everyone, not just our e-mail list members can see, add to the names as I have only scratched the surface and add to the things that go on behind the scenes.

AND ALL THE BOSTONS SAY THANK YOU TOO!

FOR THE LOVE OF A SENIOR DOG

Buddy, age 14. Buddy is on Our Dogs Page!

Opinions vary widely on the age a dog becomes a senior. Many medical professionals use a sliding scale taking weight and breed into account to calculate senior status. Dog food companies generally classify any dog over the age 0f 7 as a senior. Many dog owners who have the honor of sharing their lives with dogs 10 years and up swear that their dogs are far from seniors regardless of chronological age. Whatever rule of thumb you accept, dog lovers know that a senior dog provides endless joy and love. Here, quoted with permission by The Senior Dog Project (http://www.seniordogproject.com/) are:

The Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog

1. Older dogs are house trained. You won't have to go through the difficult stage(s) of teaching a puppy house manners and mopping/cleaning up after accidents.

2. Older dogs are not teething puppies, and won't chew your shoes and furniture while growing up.

3. Older dogs can focus well because they've mellowed. Therefore, they learn quickly.

4. Older dogs have learned what "no" means. If they hadn't learned it, they wouldn't have gotten to be "older" dogs.

5. Older dogs settle in easily, because they've learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack.

6. Rescued older dogs are good at giving love, once they get into their new, loving home, they are grateful for the second chance they've been given.

7. What You See Is What You Get: Unlike puppies, older dogs have grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grow up to be quite different from what they seemed at first.

8. Older dogs are instant companions -- ready for hiking, car trips, and other things you like to do.

9. Older dogs leave you time for yourself, because they don't make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies and young dogs do.

10. Older dogs let you get a good night's sleep because they're accustomed to human schedules and don't generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or bathroom breaks.

The list could go on and on. The Boastful Boston would like to add two more:

The eyes of a senior dog hold such expression, such love and such a desire to please, that any person that looks into them feels as they have been given a great gift.

This older owner admits that she no longer has the energy to keep up with a puppy. A puppy who is not entertained is a destructive puppy. How grateful am I, when I can sit quietly and type with one hand and pet my senior baby with the other!

It is true that a senior dog's time with a forever family MAY be shorter than a younger dog. But please remember that the life span of any dog cannot be predicted, from the youngest puppy to the 19 year old that the Boastful Boston had the honor of adopting at age 6. And besides, no matter how long they live...... it's never long enough, is it?

Here are some of our senior babies, both forever and foster.

Nelly (in the front), age 11, with siblings from left to right, Tootsie and Diego.

Read more about Nelly on Our Dogs page.

Gus, age 9. Read more about him on Our Dogs Page!

Kelsey, the Boastful Boston's own 14 year old angel!

Sam, age 14. Adoption Pending!

Dixie, age 12, adopted!