No
Kate Spicer
Jilly Cooper (84) revealed to the world that Bluebell was killed in a tragic accident.
While there will surely be a chorus of disapprovers thinking, ‘A new dog? At her age?’ you will not find me among their number.
Jilly Cooper deserves three cheers. Because she has been a dog owner for many years, she understands what it takes to make a dog happy and is capable of providing that.
As Jilly Cooper, 84, (pictured) reveals plans to get a new dog, Kate Spicer and Liz Hodgkinson debate if it is selfish to get a pet in later life
My 70-year-old parents frequently tell me their dogs are their last. I feel sad and panicked for several reasons.
Chiefly because I can only imagine how it will feel, like living in God’s waiting room without having the loyal species which has accompanied them both throughout life. Although I’m sure others won’t agree, my parents will be able to get another dog as long as they are healthy and vital.
Mum has made it clear that if Mum dies before the dog is born, she will be able to take my dog with me. A similar agreement was made by Dad and my sister. In her 80s, my aunt walks her Labrador daily in the woods near her house. After a knee injury, my cousin started walking her Labrador.
Kate Spicer (pictured) claims being old should not mean living without a beloved gentle sidekick who also keeps you fit
You don’t have to be old without a companion, who will keep you active, take you outdoors, and provide a loving, comforting presence.
You can’t beat the comfort of soft, silky ears that you can stroke when your heart is still beating. Jilly Cooper might choose to adopt another greyhound. This would be a middle-aged dog with many years of experience. Both can be sexy together. That makes complete sense.
Both can age in peace and harmony. It’s logical.
Many rescue centers won’t allow anyone over the age of 18 to adopt. Wild At Heart Foundation placed a 70-year old dog in a partnership with a puppy. The keyboard warriors were enraged, almost as though the animal had been sent to an escaped serial killer.
Founder Nikki Tibbles said: ‘We could not have found her a more loving and caring home.’
Globally, up to 600 millions stray dogs are reported. The UK can house an additional 40,000 dogs in lockdown, on top of the existing 130,000 shelter animals.
The depressing, small-minded attitude of thinking about an elderly fit man adopting these animals is not helping anyone.
YES
By Liz Hodgkinson
People who are lonely or have lost a partner can consider adopting a dog as their companion.
But when Jilly Cooper announced her intention of adopting another dog, I thought, ‘No, you are simply too old to take on the care and attention that a new and possibly boisterous dog will require.’
Liz Hodgkinson (pictured) claims ageing owners may not be in a position to give dogs the exercise they need
Two of my best friends who have been dog-lovers for a lifetime made the difficult but wise decision to not replace their rescue greyhound. In their 80s, the couple was unable to imagine their lives without their dog. However, they were concerned that another dog might outlive them and need to be rehomed.
They’re still healthy, fit, and able to take long walks even though they are old. It was, in their eyes, an agonising choice that had to be made. They did it without external interference. The couple had never been apart without their dog before.
Although greyhounds can be retired and are easy to care for, they make great pets for seniors. However, they do require some exercise every day. This is something that may not always be possible with ageing and increasing infirmity.
Jilly and other animal lovers love rescue dogs. They are more timid and traumatized than puppies and take longer to train. Some dogs may have been abused in youth, and they are often wary about humans. Greyhounds are a rare breed that is allowed to live with humans. They can be anxious even in the most dog-friendly homes.
I don’t have a dog as this would not be fair either on the dog or myself, as I live in a fourth-floor flat. Friends suggested I get one after my husband died 18 years ago. However, my life was so chaotic and susceptible to change that it wasn’t worth the expense. I knew I would also be so upset when a dog I had come to love died, and wasn’t sure I would be able to cope with the loss.
It is simply not possible to accept another job.
Tom’s son and his family own a big black Labrador. This means I know something about the pleasures — and pains — that dog ownership brings.
Even though they are all young and fit, they don’t always have as much energy as their dog and can find it difficult to take him for all the walks he demands.
It is true that dogs can be considered family. It is also heartbreaking for the dog when you pass away. So I would say, please, for the dog’s sake, don’t get another one when you are halfway through your ninth decade.