When a pet loses the person they were meant to grow old with, the impact can be devastating. For Roxanne, a 13-year-old senior dog, this became a harsh reality when her owner passed away, leaving her all alone and confused in a shelter.
‘The Plan Was to Grow Old Together’
For much of her life, Roxanne knew only love and companionship. She shared a home with her owner, where every wag of her tail was met with warmth and care. “The plan was to grow old together,” Bruna, a volunteer at Cobb County Animal Services in Georgia, explained in a video shared on her TikTok account, @Sharing.lov3.
But life had other plans. “Roxanne’s owner passed away,” Bruna told Newsweek. “The family said they couldn’t care for her, so they left her at the shelter.”
The Heartbreak of Senior Dogs Left Behind
Roxanne’s story is, sadly, far from unique. As Stephen Hammond, the Director of Cobb County Animal Services, told Newsweek, senior dogs are often left behind when their owners pass away.
“We find as our population continues to age, more and more senior dogs and cats are outliving their owners,” Hammond told Newsweek. “If the owners don’t make arrangements in their wills or have family willing to take their pets, then they most often wind up in shelters. As you can imagine, a pet that has lived with you for many years is now confused and lost without you.”
Bruna recalls Roxanne being left “heartbroken and confused” by her sudden change of circumstances. Yet even then, she saw a dog capable of living out her final years in a loving home.
“She was a little unsure of her surroundings, but she was a very loving and sweet girl from the beginning,” Bruna said.
The Struggle for Senior Dogs to Find New Homes
For senior dogs like Roxanne, the road to adoption can be an uphill battle.
A 2021 study published in the journal Animals found that older dogs, particularly those in no-kill shelters, are often overlooked in favor of younger, more energetic pets.
“Senior dogs are generally harder to adopt out and usually don’t fare well in a shelter,” Hammond told Newsweek. “They come with their own challenges, and most adopters think they want a puppy. Adopters also think about the heartbreak of bonding with their new pet and then losing them within a few years.”
A Heartfelt Plea for a Second Chance
Determined to change Roxanne’s fate, Bruna took to TikTok and Instagram, hoping to find a family willing to open their hearts to an aging, yet loving, dog. “Could you give her a nice and loving home for her to spend her golden years?” Bruna asked in a heartfelt post. “She doesn’t ask for much – all she asks for is a nice and warm bed, love, and affection.”
Her plea struck a chord. The video, which highlighted Roxanne’s gentle spirit and simple needs, went viral, garnering over 340,000 views and countless comments of support.
A Happy Ending for Roxanne
In a heartwarming update, a family drove 12 hours all the way from Pennsylvania to Georgia just to adopt Roxanne. Their dedication to giving this sweet senior dog a second chance at a loving home is a beautiful reminder of the compassion that still exists in the world.
For those wanting to share in the joy of Roxanne’s freedom, Bruna posted a video of her emotional journey to a new forever home on her TikTok feed.
The Need for Change
While Roxanne’s story has sparked hope for her future, it also highlights a critical issue facing many senior pets. Without more people willing to open their homes to these loyal, aging companions, countless dogs like Roxanne will continue to spend their final days in lonely shelter kennels.
As Hammond pointed out, there are compassionate adopters willing to take on the heartache of adopting a senior pet, but “not enough” to meet the growing need. “They understand the heartbreak and are prepared for that inevitable day, yet are willing to come back for the next one,” he told Newsweek.
Roxanne’s journey reminds us of the profound bond between pets and their owners and the deep loss they experience when that bond is broken. If more families can find it in their hearts to offer senior dogs like Roxanne a second chance, perhaps these loyal companions can spend their final years in the warmth and comfort they so deeply deserve.
