19-year-old dog given to shelter finds a new home

By Ellen

Blackie is 19 years old and looking for a home

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home received the oldest dog they've ever had in their 152 year history. Blackie, a 19-year-old mixed breed dog, arrived at the famous South London shelter this past August when his owners could no longer care for him.

Considering his age in human years would be equivalent to 133 years old, staff at Battersea are amazed by Blackie's remarkable amount of energy. He loves to play with toys, go for walks and gets lots of attention.

Blackie is the oldest dog Battersea has ever had

Philip Heron, Operations Manager at Battersea said, "Blackie's owners assured us he is 19, and we can’t find any record of an older dog ever arriving at Battersea. A 15, 16 or 17 year old dog isn't such a rare sight in our kennels, but a 19 year old is a real record-breaker for Battersea." He believes dogs are living longer than they did 10 years ago because of better diets and vet care.

Philip said, "Blackie still has lots of love to give, so we're searching for a special home for him." Within just a day of Blackie's story being shared in the news media, Battersea's web page announced Blackie has been successfuly rehomed. It would appear the loving senior dog has found a comfortable home for his retirement years.

Update September 27, 2012

Blackie is enjoying his new family in Durnham

Blackie is enjoying life in Durham City with his new owner Shirley Buchanan. Shirley saw Blackie's profile on Battersea Dogs and Cats Home social media pages and decided to adopt the elderly dog.

Blackie quickly embraced his new new doggie siblings. Shirley has two Curly Coated Retrievers, Hope who is six and Breeze who is four.

Shirley explained to the Northern Echo why she chose to adopt Blackie. She said, "I feel older dogs can get overlooked as people often want young dogs but the golden oldies have so much to give."

Shirley has re-homed older dogs in the past and found it a rewarding experience. When she read about Blackie online she was instantly drawn to him. And since he's come to live with her she has absolutely no regrets. She said, "He's an absolute joy to be around." Blackie can still jump onto a bed or couch and quickly determined that Shirley's bed was more appealing than his own. Shirley joked that she now needs a bigger bed.

She added, "Everyone we meet wants to make a fuss of him so he's lapping up the attention."

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Comments on this Article

If you have a living will, please try to make all the detailed arrangements for your fur children that you would do for yourself. Too many times, a person passes away and relatives who never bonded with a pet take the cruelest way out of the situation...dump the dog or cat into the street or into the woods. There are end-of-life programs t some shelters that guarantees to a dying senior citizen that their beloved pets will be found new forever homes...sometimes the new owners are given foster care money for those extra vet bills that come along with an aging pet. I redid my will last summer, as I am not as well as I would like to be, and the most important part of it, to ease my peace of mind, was who and how would any remaining pets be taken care of when I was gone. You can be hit by a bus at any time...do not feel that your pets will magically be taken care of! Family and friends may not be able to think clearly or follow your wishes. Get it in writing with a good lawyer......

Hi guys I just wanted to let you know that there is a member of Dog Heirs asking for your prayers tonight. Her name is Janis Haskins and her dog was hit by a car today. She made her plea at 4:44 pm on the community part of this site. Please show your support.

Hi Pamela. I am saddened to hear of Fluff's passing. Take heart and remember all the beautiful memories she gave you and your family. Those memories were her gift to you. You have my sincere and heartfelt condolences.

We just had to help our nearly 17 year old Golden retriever pass. Wednesday night, early Thursday she had a seizure and clamped down on her tongue, with it hanging out, after an hour and a half like that the decision was pretty much made for us. Still it was so very hard, even her vet was crying as she helped our beautiful girl. Fluff was one of the great ones, beloved by dozens of children and not a few adults. One of the most gentle dogs ever, she was also an incredible swimmer that loved surfing and games of hide and seek. As for Blackie here:what an incredible person to open their heart to adopting a very senior dog.

Hey Thank you, Thank you all that helped Blackie Thank you Battersea for taking in this handsome senior boy, Shirley for having the heart that sees the love and value of his life so stated Cat Simpson and words that said what I believe in. Thank all of you guys, thank you.

it's wonderful that he didn't have to live his last bit of life in some shelter, or end up put to sleep at the end. Thank you Shirley for giving this wonderful pup a fitting home :)

I agree with Dan. So happy that this great dog was given a loving new home! <3

Oh this is so sweet. So glad he has a wonderful person to watch over him.

Pamela, Fluff lived that extra 7 years because she loved her family so much. For us dog lovers, it is almost a given that we have to watch them pass. It's the price we pay for living with Angels on Earth.

Thank you Darrin, I did forget to mention that Fluff was diagnosed with intestinal tumors at ten years old. We opted out of chemo, she was ten and the chemo was six months long and the survival rate with the chemo was six months. In other words, once the chemo stopped she was expected to die. So we put her on a soft diet and took her home. Now 7 years later, the tumors are still there, but they never grew and didn't multiply??? She is also skin and bones these days. The only way to enter our house is through stairs, it's snow country after all. I know if I have to take her in I will feel the same way as you, killing my own child. Our son is San Diego right now and when ever he leaves a pone message she looks for him still, she's a bit deaf and can't tell it isn't really him. I feel like I can't do it while she is still looking for her beloved boy and old surfing companion.

Hi Pamela. I to have carried my dogs up and down stairs when they got older. My Santana Banana ( Tana ) passed at home at 17 years of age. My Brandywine girl was 14 years old when she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I gave my family a little time to say goodbye and then took her to the vet to have her put down. She was turning into skin and bone. Even though I new I was showing her mercy from the pain, it still felt like I killed my own kid. Either way they go it is always heart wrenching and hard. You should give yourself credit for showing Fluff a beautiful life.

Everyone casting such stern judgement on the previous owners, careful, judge not lest you be judged. This was obviously a well cared for and loved dog, so something happened that forced someone to make the wrenching decision to surrender their beloved pet. You do realize that instead of surrendering it, they could've driven to their local vet and had him put down instead? Then they would not have faced your scorn or the scorn of millions of others. We have an 80 pound golden retriever, I weigh 105 pounds, at 17 years old Fluff can no longer stand unassisted, and must be aided in urinating, moving her bowels and definitely in climbing stairs ( I just carry her up them), even walking has become difficult. We had sworn that we would let her pass quietly at home, as long as she was not in pain, but we are now facing a reality check. Winter is coming and my beloved old girl will definitely not be able to handle the ice and snow that is on its way. The irony, of course, is that for the 15 months that our son was in Afghanistan we prayed that she wouldn't pass. So faced with my reality I give credit to whoever brought Blackie in rather than having him destroyed.

I suspect the previous guardian (I don't like the word owner - we don't own dogs, they own us) probably passed away or suffered from some sort of illness and could no longer take care of Blackie. I'm so glad that Blackie was able to find a new home with some younger friends :).

yes you are right I though I did say in my comment but I do want to again say ( and this is just for me) usually it just makes me very angry to see animals dumped at any age and seniors like this, but many are not in good shape HOWEVER some seem to be like Blackie here seems to have been cared for all his 19 years and maybe the people passed away or could no longer care for him because they went into a nursing home or something and may times it is the family of those who had pet family who actually dump them when their parents or family pass away or other, and the pet family WAS actually loved by those who had them......Yes I do think Blackie must have had people who cared very much for him!.......so I hope they can see that thank fully he is OK and they can be at peace also..........like Blackie is now having a new life...and I hope it will be a longer and happy one continuing.....:)

I am always amazed at how vicious people can get about situations they know nothing about. I have two senior dogs I adopted knowing that they day might come when they would lose control over their bladders and bowels. I vowed not to let that stop me from caring for them as long as they had a good quality of life otherwise. Well my one dog is now 19 and the other is 17 and they are losing control of their bladders and bowels. The younger one suffers from canine dementia but both dogs play like puppies and enjoy life totally. I never dreamed they would last so long, when I adopted them, given their histories of abandonment and starvation, but I guess my care helped mitigate those factors. I hope to continue to care for them to the end but the day may come when they outlive me. I have tried to provide for them but I have absolutely no control over what happens to them once I am gone. So before you go jumping all over someone for "dumping" their 19-year-old dog just remember that someone loved and cared for that dog for 19 years and didn't give it up easily. Something bad happened and they could no longer care for the dog as they should. They didn't throw it out to survive on its own, as so many people do, they placed it with a reputable shelter. They should be congratulated for finding such a caring facility for their beloved friend and companion.

WAY 2 GO!!!! All 2 often the OLDER dogs and the ones with disabilities get over looked, When in fact THEY ARE THE ONES WITH THE BIGGEST HEARTS AND THE MOST LOVE 2 GIVE! I once found A OLDER dog in the rain, on the streets, took him in and let me tell ya he was the most loyal dog ever! his last years were his best! Ppl 2 need 2 stop and realize these babies DO HAVE FEELINGS! HATS OFF 2 YOU!!!

Blackie is in a happier place now..clearly with a loving new Mom and a couple of energetic friends to frolic with. LOOK at Blackie..HE has the ball in his mouth !!! This is a bonded group and may Blackie never look back !! Give up all your anger and see the joy !

Blackie looks like he was always a part of this family. The previous parents.. We reap what we sow.. Shirley was always meant to be Blackies parent. i am happy for this gorgeous boy. :)

well I want to update my comment also...Thank you Battersea for taking in this handsome senior boy Blackie and Shirley for having the heart that sees the love and value of his life, Yes who ever had him must have done some things right as he has done very well and sad to think but hope it is only in the passing perhaps of his former people and that they did love him, that he ended up orphaned, very sad sometimes "family members" who should love an animal and care for then because another family loved them, but many times they just dump them.......sad..........however I hope the family who had him loved him dearly and know that Blackie is OK and will be loved and cared for his long life to come with his new family.....THANK YOU bless you all....Live long and happy Blackie in your sweet family.... I pray ALL animals in the world would find this...this prayer goes on....it seems like a fate not meant for far too many so I am so thankful when ANY animal is saved and loved!