We adopted our beagle Toby when he was 10 years old – yes, you read that right! He came to the shelter (where I volunteer) as a stray, overweight, with a torn ACL. He was microchipped, but his owners refused to return the shelter’s calls to pick him up. Given his age and medical condition, his chances for adoption were slim to none. I saw him and after one look in his eyes, I knew I’d just gotten myself a 10 year old, limping puppy! I’ve always had a soft spot for beagles since I was four years old and my parents got me a beagle puppy. There’s just something about those sweet, floppy ears! So anyhow, I brought 10 year old Toby home from the shelter. (Thankfully my husband – bless him – did not even flinch or question why we’d adopted a 10 year old lame beagle, just welcomed Toby up onto the sofa for ear scratches.) We got Toby’s ACL healed up and put him on a diet. The diet part has been a challenge since this very smart and goofy fella chews holes in dog food bags and opens Tupperware containers. But we persist! Toby is 13 years old now and still our precious puppy. Today, I had to take Toby to the vet because his body is giving out on him again. His ACL has re-torn. He has bone spurs in his spine. And he has arthritis in his hips. We upped his pain meds and he’s comfortable now. So we’re taking it one day at a time, feeling blessed for every extra day we get with our very, very special “puppy.” Next time you’re looking to add a pet to your home, in honor of all the amazing Tobys out there, I hope you’ll consider adopting a senior! Do you have a special pet in your life?