'My vet gave him one, maybe 2 weeks to live': 17-year-old "terminally ill" dog gets adopted by the kindest person, then thrives for many more years, plus other stories of people choosing to give senior dogs the best retirement

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Mar 28, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

A little bit of love can go a heck of a long way when it comes to changing someone's life. That is true for us as humans, and it is equally true for dogs. Dogs bring so much joy into our lives. Adopting a puppy is like adopting a little ray of sunshine into your home that will shine bright every single day of your life. Getting adopted is one of the most joyful things for the dogs as well. You can see it in how happy they are on their way home from the shelters.

But it is not just puppies who deserve forever homes. Senior dogs deserve love too. And unfortunately, people so rarely adopt senior dogs. We understand why, we really do. You want the dog that you adopt to be with you for as many years as pawssible, because the thought of losing them is simply unbearable. And still, senior dogs deserve homes just as much as regular dogs, and you never know, the love and joy that being adopted could bring them might make them live longer. It's possible. It happened to Chester.

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via Gone But Not Forgotten, hoff house
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via Gone But Not Forgotten
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via Gone But Not Forgotten
It's all about taking a chance. He was still here, at 17 years of age, fighting for happiness. Most dogs don't make it to that age. It means that he had fight in him. Spirit. We are not surprised that he kept living for years after his diagnosis. He clearly wanted to live, and we are sure that the love that the got helped him continue on.
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"Meet Oatis, my new roommate... I’ve never had a senior dog before."

via Other__Joey
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"Just made the adoption official in my 16-year-old foster dog"

via HisMomm
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"Adopted a Senior Buddy, meet Zippy"

via Thrawn_Nuruodo
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"Boris Rodriguez, 16.5, just got adopted!"

via enoughlurking
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"Recently adopted a senior dog."

via CursedGremlin
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"13-yr old owner surrender we recently adopted"

via totally_c-h-u-d
There are not many people who take chances on super senior dogs like this, so we are truly thankful for each and every one who does. These dogs deserve it. And no matter how short their time on this world is, they will bring you an endless amount of joy.
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"Lilly! Adopted on Easter Sunday. She's 12 years old and adjusting well to the new home."

via fabfrankie401
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"Adopted these girls after they were surrendered for being 'too old'"

via wholivesinthewoods
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"Just adopted this 16 y/o sweetie"

via Cook_Own
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"This is my newest son, Maxie! We adopted him in November. He is 15-years-old"

via vlmshay
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"Just adopted this old man to give him some comfort in his golden years"

via @DogLovers03
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"I adopted a 13 year old dog from Humane Society..."

via @lobo0506
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"Yesterday I adopted the oldest, sickest and most injured dog from a shelter"

via @DogLovers03
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"We adopted a senior dog named Sunny"

via @mellowmiss1
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"My husband and I adopted a 15 year old terrier mix from animal services"

via @erinsullivan123
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"I’m 80 my husband died last April so I totally understand. Haven’t seen kids for 20 years. So I adopted a senior dog that had no hope - now we have each other too"

via @av8trix6
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"Adopted this elderly gentleman on the 15th from a rescue org. He was neglected for years"

via @Stephan65483963