Soppy old Bobby is a 15 years old Patterdale X Jack Russell Terrier who came into the Oldies Club in October 2023 after his owner had to go into a care home.
When he first arrived Bobby cried and it took a couple of weeks to settle into his foster home. He quickly let it be known that sleeping on the bed at night was non-negotiable and that he doesn’t do any substantive business in the garden, so he must be taken on snuffly strolls quite often. Once trained, he found his foster carer to be delightful!
On Bobby’s first vet visit they confirmed his heart and temperature were good but his tummy was quite distended so they took a scan. They said his liver looked quite large but didn’t seem to be concerned and would await results of his blood test. His vet history also revealed that he is prone to regular ear infections. At this time Bobby was given the all clear from the vets to be put up for rehoming. Initially he was listed on our website but sadly no suitable applications were received.
Due to being in our care for 10 months with no forever home in sight and a steady decrease in his health it was decided that Bobby would be placed in our sponsor dog scheme. This means he will remain in his lovely foster home on a permanent basis, with the charity paying his vet bills for the rest of his life.
Bobby adores cuddles on the sofa and fuss in general. Although he’s deaf and doesn’t hear commands, he will sit nicely and give paw for a treat. He’s very clever and polite! He will have a brief play with a toy or chase a ball but quickly finds something else to be getting on with. He is outdoorsy and inquisitive. When he’s reached his sniff quota, settling down near his human(s) is his all-time favourite thing.
Bobby loves walkies. Having said that, he does need encouragement leaving the house if it’s raining! He’s well behaved and steady on walks, taking other dogs, joggers and passing traffic in his dinky stride. Being deaf, he stays on lead which must be kept short anywhere near roads as he has zero road sense. His back legs have become weaker over time but he so loves getting out to explore, his foster carer brings along a dog buggy, giving him the option to ride in that if he gets too tired.
He enjoys his outings further a field and loves going places in the car. He has been on some nice trips out into the New Forest and the seaside where he enjoys all the new sights and sniffs.
Bobby is friendly when he meets other dogs out and about, greeting them all with a waggy tail but he can get nervous and growl at big dogs who loom or are too boisterous near 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 Bobby, or one of the other special oldies we are caring for in our sponsor dog scheme.