18/02/24 Sadly Zara’s health deteriorated and on vet advice she was put to sleep. Run free lovely girl
Zara is a 14 years old German Shepherd who came into Oldies Club care in January 2022. Zara came into our care via another rescue associate after she was signed over by her alcoholic owner.
When Zara first arrived she was very smelly and upset but after about 15 minutes of crying she settled down. Her fosterers didn’t hear a peep from Zara over night. 
Zara had a reasonable bill of health from the vets. She needed anti-inflammatories for a cough, ear cleaner to help with a build up of wax in her ears and needing to put on more weight. After putting on a kilo she became a little steadier on her legs but her fosterers discovered that she found walking on a lead traumatic. Zara appeared scared of dogs, traffic and people and we are unsure as to how much experience she had outside of a house. Oldies Club brought in a behaviourist to visit Zara to assess her anxiety. After a long chat with her fosterer she was able to suggest ways to keep Zara’s mind active to help with her nervousness.
Due to her anxiety and her feeling safe in her foster home, Oldies Club made the decision to place Zara in our sponsor dog scheme, which means she will remain at her lovely foster home where she feels comfortable on a permanent basis, with the charity paying her vet bills for the rest of her life.
Although Zara is afraid of other dogs she is very friendly with the resident cat, Daisy. She even tried to get Daisy to play in the garden. She was not impressed.
Zara’s fosterers say she is a joy to have around. She is happy in the garden or in the house, or wherever her fosterers are. She loves a game of ball but not necessarily fetching it back.
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 Zara, or one of the other special oldies we are caring for in our sponsor dog scheme.