16 years is a long time for a dog. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association:

  • The first year of a medium-sized dog’s life is equal to about 15 years of a human’s life.
  • The second year of a dog’s life equals about nine years for a human.
  • After that, every year equals approximately four or five years for a dog.

That means that our Golden Girl, Laverne, turns approximately 87 years old on August 10th! 

Laverne is one special lady. Despite being the oldest dog in the kennel right now, she is still pretty active – every morning she is up and about, greeting staff. She will then explore her yard and even sunbathe for a little. Eventually, Laverne will settle in for long naps in her bedroom or in her favorite nook outside, right by her bedroom door.

Laverne has lived a long and full life. She was first rescued by Living Free as a young dog. She was adopted out to a family whom she lived with for 6 years of her life. She was returned to our care in 2014.  

By the time she was returned, Laverne was 9 years old and already considered a senior dog. She loved spending time with people and going on walks, especially with our volunteers. Despite being a wonderful, sweet dog, she was never adopted again. Older animals are often overlooked when people are considering adopting. There is a concern about the heartache and the short time they might have left with a senior. 

We think that love is timeless. Seniors are often some of the most loving companions. It’s not about the amount of time you have left with them but the quality of the love they bring you everyday you have together. Laverne has been a joy to have in our kennel and has shown us just how much life a senior dog has left to live – it has been 7 years since she was returned to us! She is so easy-going and loves her routine. While she cannot go on long walks anymore due to arthritis, she still enjoys spending time in her yard with staff and volunteers or short visits to our small dog park. 

Laverne is a testament to the spirit of the dog and Living Free’s commitment to every animal that comes through our gates. While it was always our hope that Laverne would find a forever family, we are happy that she had a home with us. Our staff has loved and cared for her through her old age. They’ve made sure she has stayed healthy and strong. We think that 16 years old is a remarkable age for a remarkable dog. 

Today, in celebration of Laverne, we hope you consider donating to Living Free. Your donation goes directly to dogs like Laverne and ensures that Living Free can continue to support our rescued dogs and cats for as long as they need. 

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