30/8/21 – Gorgeous Ben has gone off to his lovely new home!
———————
Adorable Ben is a Patterdale Terrier boy of 13 years who came into the Oldies Club rescue after his owner sadly passed away. He’s currently enjoying life in a foster home in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland while he waits for his perfect permanent home.
Ben’s ideal home: An active household with no other pets where someone can be there for company for him at any given time. Ben loves brisk walks and being outside in the garden. He also loves snoozing between walks, knowing there’s a person nearby to keep him safe.
Needs human company: Ben took a week to relax in his foster home but he still gets distressed if left on his own and is vocal about it. Having more than one person to take turns being there works for his fosterers.
Best as an only dog: Ben ignores most other dogs when out on walks, unless they’re too pushy in his space. He’s always been the only dog at home so he’d rather life continued that way.
Will chase cats: It’s what they’re for, isn’t it?
Good with older children: Ben is said to be good with children. He does need a lot of sleep but would be OK to live with older, respectful children from age 10.
Needs good walks: Ben loves getting out to explore and he likes to walk quickly. He can pull on the lead but he’s only 9kg so he’s easy enough to control. He must stay on the lead, not just because he’s a Terrier and will follow the scent of a rodent wherever it takes him, but also because he’s almost completely deaf. He doesn’t even check in to be sure that you’re still going the same way he is, because he’s too busy with all the interesting smells! At the moment he gets three walks a day. He has a 40 minute morning walk, a 10 minute lunchtime walk and a 45-60 minute evening walk. He could probably manage with two and a potter in the garden. His current routine leaves him nicely tuckered out and he just sleeps peacefully between walks.
OK in the car: Ben finds car rides very exciting since they almost always mean adventures with new smells! He tries to look out of all the windows so it’s safest if he travels in a crate.
Ben’s favourite pastimes: Sniffing and snuffling outside, exploring and sleeping. He also loves greeting visitors. He gets a bit beside himself with excitement and will jump up, although not too much with his creaky legs. He likes to carry a ball around when he’s walking but doesn’t really play with it or with toys. Once at home, the ball doesn’t last very long as he enjoys chewing them up!
Health notes: Ben is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and has been wormed and flea treated. We were told that Ben had an operation on his right elbow when he was a year old as the bones rubbed, but the operation wasn’t successful and so he would develop arthritis. He’s lame on that leg and carries it a lot. He is also lame on his back left leg – possibly because of his action regarding the front leg. He is having 25mg Rimadyl once a day and once a month he has an injection of Librela. Judging by his brisk pace on walks, this treatment suits him well. He has a couple of warts, one on his nose and one on his neck, but the vet said they are not a problem. He is mostly deaf but can hear sudden, sharp or high pitched noises so it’s not just selective deafness. At least it means he sleeps soundly through thunderstorms!
Ben’s foster carer says: “Ben is tall, dark and handsome! He’s bigger than your average Pat, wire-haired with long, distinguished facial hair. He’s a very sweet boy and no trouble at all as long as he’s had his walks, after which he settles in his bed and you don’t even know he’s there. He’s shown no interest in toys although he arrived with a bag full. He walks fast – you’d never think he was 13 – and is a keen sniffer.”
——————————
If you would like to offer Ben a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact an Oldies Club rehoming co-ordinator as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 586 8656
Ben can be rehomed anywhere on the UK mainland – the closer to his foster home the better though, subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect him.
——————————
If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren’t suitable, perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor one of the special oldies we are caring for that, due to health problems, are unlikely to be offered a permanent home.
——————————
This replace Ben’s original page dated 20 May 2021.