20/07/21 – Sadly after a short illness Izzie has passed away. She went to sleep in her fosterers arms. Sleep tight little one x
Izzie is a 17 year old Jack Russell Terrier who came into Oldies Club care in March 2021 due to her owners’ relationship breakup and them having to move to accommodation where dogs are sadly not allowed.
Although an upheaval for Izzie who had been with the same family since a puppy she settled in to her foster home within three weeks of arriving.
Izzie has her good and bad days but overall she’s fine. She sometimes twitches badly and jerks her head back, the vet thought it could possibly be her reacting to her very slight sight. Izzie also shows some signs of dementia and sometimes ‘stares’ at the wall for ages and then will wander around and around before settling in one of the beds. Thankfully she isnt showing any signs of distress. Izzie has a few lumps and bumps but the vet has confirmed these are nothing to worry about.
Due to her dementia, blindness and age, Oldies Club made the decision to place Izzie in our sponsor dog scheme, which means she will remain at her lovely foster home on a permanent basis, with the charity paying her vet bills for the rest of her life.
At first Izzie jumped whenever she was touched but is now quite used to it and absolutely loves strokes, cuddles and snoozing on her fosterer’s lap. Although she now likes cuddles Izzie doesn’t really like being picked up and struggles a bit. She also isnt keen on having her face washed but needs must when you have messy chops.
Although Izzie has rather poor eyesight she has got to know the layout of her foster home and garden. Izzie adores the garden and likes to be able to wander in and out as she pleases. She bunny hops in and out of the doors which is rather cute to see.
Izzie body clock was used to early nights and early mornings but has now happily adjusted to retirement times. She often sleeps in later than her fosterers and takes her time getting out of her bed.
Izzie is a silent dog. She doesn’t bark or make any other noise apart from an occasional little snore so it took her fosterers a little while to decide if she was just patrolling the house or actually wanted to go out. She is very good considering her age and she has never had any accidents in the house.
Izzie loves her on-lead walks and is much fitter and more active now. What would normally be a 10 – 15 minute walk can now take up to an hour as she has to explore and sniff absolutely everything. There is no way is she moving on until she’s done. Izzie will meet and greet other dogs whilst out on her walks. In a safe, enclosed place Izzie is fine to go off her lead but she doesn’t go far from her fosterers.
Izzie is a very loving little mite and a complete joy to her fosterers but she certainly hasn’t lost her Jack Russell spirit and stubbornness. She can get a bit stroppy with herself if she takes a wrong turn and gets stuck. She’s so funny and her fosterers love her to bits.
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 Izzie, or one of the other special oldies we are caring for in our sponsor dog scheme.