Happy Tail: Senior Dog Marbles Finds His Forever Couch

Marbles is the kind of dog people walk past. He is 11, mostly grey, walks slowly, and prefers a sunny patch of carpet over a game of fetch. He arrived at GHS in October after his elderly owner moved into long-term care, and for nearly six months he watched families come and go, always pausing for the puppies in the kennel beside his.

Then last weekend, the Patel family — empty-nesters who had recently lost their 14-year-old golden retriever — walked through our doors specifically asking about senior dogs. They sat with Marbles in our visitation room for over an hour, and by the end he had his head in Anita Patel’s lap and was very gently snoring.

"We weren’t looking for another decade with a dog," said Raj Patel. "We were looking to give a great dog his best last chapter. Marbles is going to be very, very loved."

GHS subsidizes adoption fees for senior pets ($100, including a starter pack and a free senior wellness exam at our partner clinic). If you are considering a senior pet, please come visit — we currently have three more dogs over the age of 8 patiently waiting.