2 January 2011: We are very sad to have to let you know that lovely Starry has passed away :( Our thoughts and thanks are with Olive, her wonderful foster Mum, who has taken such great care of Starry for us. Sleep tight, Sweet Starry.
Most of the photos on this page are © Jessica Penaluna. Thank you Jess!
Starry is a gorgeous example of a good old-fashioned, sturdy black mongrel. Starry is 15 years old and came into Oldies Club care at the end of 2010. At first Starry was deemed fit enough to be rehomed but over the months she has patiently waited for her forever home her overall health has deteriorated. We have therefore made the decision that she will remain in Oldies Club care for the rest of her days in her loving foster home.
When Starry orginally came in she had some stiffness in her back end that is evident when she lies down and gets up. Her spine and legs have since weakened quite a lot and she is on lifetime medication for arthritis. She has a heart murmur but has a strong heartbeat and currently doesn’t need medication for the murmur. Starry also has an old cruciate ligament injury to her left back knee and this has led to her being unable to sit – she tends to either stand or lie down. She has some fatty lumps which are not a problem, and her eyesight is not what it was, but that is to be expected in a dog of her age.
Starry is good with dogs and lives happily with her two foster sisters. Starry has a delightful character and is described by her foster carer as a lovely, lovely girl — a gracious old lady; she has a very sweet nature and will make a lovely companion.
Despite having a lot of upheaval before she came into our care, Starry has settled well at her foster home. She is used to being left with the other dogs whilst her foster mum is at work and she is fine with this. She barks if she sees someone outside of the house but it isn’t a persistent bark, just a warning.
Starry has been walked mainly on lead but goes off lead when there is no chance of her getting lost. She can’t see very well in the dark or dusk. She’s very good in the car but, due to an old cruciate ligament injury, she sometimes needs a bit of help to get in, and she can’t sit, so can’t go on the front seat.
Starry likes food!! She doesn’t play with toys but she does like a game of hide and seek with a few treats as the prize.
Foster carer’s summary:
Starry is one of those “low maintenance” dogs. She’s not clingy and needy but does like to be near you. In the mornings when I leave for work she watches from the patio door, and when I return, it’s as if she knows when, because there she is again, waiting. For a dog with a bad back and dodgy legs she can get to the front door fast enough! In the evenings she likes to settle down either on the settee close by, sometimes resting her head on your foot, or she’ll lie on the floor near your feet. Once you are home, Starry is your shadow.
You don’t need to entertain Starry, she doesn’t bombard you with toys or always needing to do something, she is very content just to be near you. On the odd occasion I let her off the lead (she gets confused and sometimes walks away from you) she has a bit of a “gallop”, but I quickly catch her and put her on the lead as it’s not good for her back or legs, but she loves that moment of freedom!
She’s a little monkey where food is concerned and it doesn’t matter if you try to sneak in a biscuit, or a chocolate – she has an amazing sense of smell! Where food and treats are concerned – everything needs to be “Starry-proofed”.
She gets on very well with my two dogs, and is very sociable with any dog coming into the house or dogs we meet on walks. Everyone we meet on walks thinks Starry is lovely and they always make a fuss of her.
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