Bette writes:

" I had to make the decision to let my beloved yellow lab Rebel go on March 7, 2007. He was 14-1/2 years old and had many medical problems. We had been together since he was 8 weeks old. Together we lost my husband to cancer, his chocolate lab "brother" Stryder died of a congenital heart defect and my son got married and moved away. Through it all Rebel was a constant companion and comfort. It was a difficult decision to not selfishly keep him here for myself. Afterward, I told everyone I would not have another dog. Yet many times I found myself drawn to Petfinder.com in the wee hours. There was an empty place in my house and heart. I knew that I did not want a puppy at my age, and I had always worried that if something happened to me Rebel would be "unadoptable" due to his age and medical problems.
On September 16, I once again found myself online.......and there she was.....a featured senior dog at AARF. Casey was staring out at me begging to be mine. I knew as soon as I saw her that the time was right and, best of all, I had found the right dog. She was an approximately 9 year old yellow lab who had been with two other families and in two foster homes. It was love at first sight, and we knew she had found her forever home with me.
She is the perfect pet. Someone spent a lot of time training her. Casey has been with me for about 9 months now.   She loves her new life and is a model pet.   People can't believe she is so attentive and well behaved on and off her leash.. My house backs up to Terrill Mill Park, and she has made many friends, both two and four legged, there. Often the dogs play in fenced in areas together. One of her friends, a three year old Old English Sheepdog Lena, sometimes comes for a play date in our backyard. Casey loves to go for walks, chase squirrels and chipmunks, and watch the fish in the pond in her backyard.   I recently went on a trip to the Galapagos for 11 days.   I had never left Casey for that long, but her sitter, Lena's owner, said she did very well.   It seems she finally knows she will never have to leave, and I will always come back to her.
Some of my friends say Casey doesn't know it, but she hit the Canine Lottery when she came to live with me. I say it is mutual. It's as if we have been together forever already. She has not replaced Rebel but taken up residency in his former home and brought unconditional love and companionship back into both our lives.

Please consider a senior pet for yourself or older friends and family. The Silver Paws program matches senior pets and people, and I know first hand the joy of living with my young-at-heart loving Casey."