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My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts
National Bestseller
“No Dog Should Die Alone" was the attention-grabbing — and heart-stirring — headline of journalist Laura T. Coffey’s TODAY show website story about photographer Lori Fusaro’s work with senior shelter pets. While generally calm, easy, and already house-trained, these animals often represent the highest-risk population at shelters. With gorgeous, joyful photographs and sweet, funny, true tales of “old dogs learning new tricks,” Coffey and Fusaro show that adopting a senior can be even more rewarding than choosing a younger dog. You’ll meet endearing elders like Marnie, the irresistible shih tzu who has posed for selfies with Tina Fey, James Franco, and Betty White; Remy, a soulful nine-year-old dog adopted by elderly nuns; George Clooney’s cocker spaniel, Einstein; Susie, the funny little senior dog who got adopted by "Humans of New York" creator Brandon Stanton and "Susie's Senior Dogs" founder Erin Stanton; and Bretagne, the last known surviving search dog from Ground Zero. They may be slower moving and a tad less exuberant than puppies, but these pooches prove that adopting a senior brings immeasurable joy, earnest devotion, and unconditional love.
“No Dog Should Die Alone" was the attention-grabbing — and heart-stirring — headline of journalist Laura T. Coffey’s TODAY show website story about photographer Lori Fusaro’s work with senior shelter pets. While generally calm, easy, and already house-trained, these animals often represent the highest-risk population at shelters. With gorgeous, joyful photographs and sweet, funny, true tales of “old dogs learning new tricks,” Coffey and Fusaro show that adopting a senior can be even more rewarding than choosing a younger dog. You’ll meet endearing elders like Marnie, the irresistible shih tzu who has posed for selfies with Tina Fey, James Franco, and Betty White; Remy, a soulful nine-year-old dog adopted by elderly nuns; George Clooney’s cocker spaniel, Einstein; Susie, the funny little senior dog who got adopted by "Humans of New York" creator Brandon Stanton and "Susie's Senior Dogs" founder Erin Stanton; and Bretagne, the last known surviving search dog from Ground Zero. They may be slower moving and a tad less exuberant than puppies, but these pooches prove that adopting a senior brings immeasurable joy, earnest devotion, and unconditional love.
- GenresNonfictionAnimalsDogs
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
27 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 19, 2016
Lovely book. Great photographs of good dogs leading good lives. Some of these stories are heartbreaking, although there is always a happy ending. There's good, practical advice about pet adoption in general, and about dog rescue in particular. Let me put my opinions out here, so that my next point has context: I am totally opposed to the breeding and selling of pets. For both dogs and cats the breed standards have become unhealthy and unwise, and until Southern states are as invested in spaying and neutering strays as Northern states, there will continue to be more adoptable animals than will ever find homes. So I have nothing but respect for people who devote their time and talents to finding good homes for pets.
But. This book reveals an aspect of good-doing that has gone hopelessly awry. There are many examples here of pets who are happy and loved, but who cannot be kept by their people for numerous financial reasons: loss of income, loss of housing, and the high cost of needed healthcare for aging critters. Loving people are forced to surrender loved pets most often because they can't get money to keep them. And repeatedly in this book there are stories of rescue groups who raise money to pay for dental work or maintenance medicines or surgeries for surrendered animals. The funders, the fundraisers, the foster homes for ill pets, and the medical providers who give their time and expertise to treat pets as cheaply as possible, all these people are dedicated and generous and have nothing but good intentions. So why aren't the money and effort and support going to people before they are forced to surrender their pets? It's true for children, and elderly folks, as well as pets: if direct financial assistance was offered during the crisis not only would more families remain intact, but everyone would be happier and healthier. Medical crises shouldn't bankrupt and break up animal families any more than they should bankrupt and break up human families. If we offer the right help at the right time, maybe they won't have to.
Library copy
But. This book reveals an aspect of good-doing that has gone hopelessly awry. There are many examples here of pets who are happy and loved, but who cannot be kept by their people for numerous financial reasons: loss of income, loss of housing, and the high cost of needed healthcare for aging critters. Loving people are forced to surrender loved pets most often because they can't get money to keep them. And repeatedly in this book there are stories of rescue groups who raise money to pay for dental work or maintenance medicines or surgeries for surrendered animals. The funders, the fundraisers, the foster homes for ill pets, and the medical providers who give their time and expertise to treat pets as cheaply as possible, all these people are dedicated and generous and have nothing but good intentions. So why aren't the money and effort and support going to people before they are forced to surrender their pets? It's true for children, and elderly folks, as well as pets: if direct financial assistance was offered during the crisis not only would more families remain intact, but everyone would be happier and healthier. Medical crises shouldn't bankrupt and break up animal families any more than they should bankrupt and break up human families. If we offer the right help at the right time, maybe they won't have to.
Library copy
September 28, 2015
We live in a throwaway society. We toss out our food wrappers, we wait in line to swap last year’s gadget for the latest model, we idolize pop singers barely past puberty. We’re ashamed to age.
That’s why “This Old Dog” is so refreshing. As writer Laura T. Coffey points out in its forward, puppies are adorable, but they also tend to pee on the carpet and chew on your shoes. In contrast, older dogs like the ones we meet in this book are calm and grateful. We meet dogs of the famous (George Clooney’s black cocker spaniel, Einstein) and dogs who are famous themselves (Marnie, a charismatic shih tzu with a million Instagram followers). We meet heroic dogs (Bretagne, the last known surviving 9/11 search dog to have worked at Ground Zero) and hard-working ones (Duval, a certified therapy dog who does wonders with first-graders struggling to learn to read). And then there are the dogs that nobody wanted, like Remy, a 9-year-old pit bull who languished in a shelter until three octogenarian nuns took him in, a “match made in heaven.”
Coffey, an award-winning journalist, reveals each of these canine characters with obvious compassion yet without sentimentality. She doesn’t strain to yank your heartstrings. She doesn’t need to; the unembellished details of these stories pack volumes of drama and pathos. And Lori Fusaro’s photos are similarly straightforward. These are not fuzzy greeting card pictures of cute puppies; they’re honest portraits of dogs with distinctive personalities only time can etch.
The words and pictures come together to convey the many lessons older dogs have to teach us: about perseverance, about dignity, about service and, above all, about love.
That’s why “This Old Dog” is so refreshing. As writer Laura T. Coffey points out in its forward, puppies are adorable, but they also tend to pee on the carpet and chew on your shoes. In contrast, older dogs like the ones we meet in this book are calm and grateful. We meet dogs of the famous (George Clooney’s black cocker spaniel, Einstein) and dogs who are famous themselves (Marnie, a charismatic shih tzu with a million Instagram followers). We meet heroic dogs (Bretagne, the last known surviving 9/11 search dog to have worked at Ground Zero) and hard-working ones (Duval, a certified therapy dog who does wonders with first-graders struggling to learn to read). And then there are the dogs that nobody wanted, like Remy, a 9-year-old pit bull who languished in a shelter until three octogenarian nuns took him in, a “match made in heaven.”
Coffey, an award-winning journalist, reveals each of these canine characters with obvious compassion yet without sentimentality. She doesn’t strain to yank your heartstrings. She doesn’t need to; the unembellished details of these stories pack volumes of drama and pathos. And Lori Fusaro’s photos are similarly straightforward. These are not fuzzy greeting card pictures of cute puppies; they’re honest portraits of dogs with distinctive personalities only time can etch.
The words and pictures come together to convey the many lessons older dogs have to teach us: about perseverance, about dignity, about service and, above all, about love.
February 14, 2016
This book provides fantastic insight into owning older dogs, the adoption process and the way in which the world tends to view senior animals. This book offered me a lot of newfound appreciation for rescuing an animal, and that may be the route I go if lord forbids anything happens to my Bru or Ko.
It made me hug and squish my puppies so much when I was done. Such an awesome book, and it made me cry so much!
It made me hug and squish my puppies so much when I was done. Such an awesome book, and it made me cry so much!
November 17, 2015
Photographer Lori Fusaro was using her photography skills to help animals in high-risk LA animal shelters get adopted. In doing that work she saw how many older dogs often languished in shelters - these were more often than not great dogs who's owner may have passed away or for some reason couldn't keep them. When Laura Coffey wrote a story for TODAY show website about Lori's work and adopting older dogs it turned into this book. These two ladies highlight stories of older dogs who have been rescued and lived great "second" lives. Many of these stories will break your heart thinking about what would have happened to these great dogs if their rescuers hadn't taken the chance on an older pet. Coffey reiterates that older dogs are often MUCH easier pets because they are already housebroken and often don't require "tiring out" to calm down. The obvious downsides are that older dogs often don't have as many years left and some can require costly vet care. But, the benefits outweigh the negatives as these stories show! There are also some great tips and resources if you're considering adopting an older dog in the last section of the book. And as more of a cat person myself, I would say this is the same for cats - consider adopting an older pet cat OR dog! This is a must-read for any animal person!
April 15, 2016
I give this 10 stars! It's a book about old dogs being rescued and living happy lives. And, there are glorious pictures to match! What is not to love about this? If it influences even one person not to overlook a senior shelter dog, then this book made the world a better place. I rescued a senior beagle hound who was dumped because he was and fat; I couldn't do much about his age (12) but I could fix the weight. Winston loved his new life and trimmed down with regular walks. I had no idea if I'd have him for two days or two months but I ended up with 2.5 wonderful years with him! I also had a shih tzu who made it to age 18.5; even though she was blind and deaf that last year. I believe she had good life quality right to her last day when I let her go. So I have experience with senior dogs and can vouch for how wonderful they are! Please don't overlook them when you see them!!!
December 19, 2015
This is such a special book about adopting senior dogs! Lively stories of the joy senior dogs can bring - loved the bit about George Clooney hoping to adopt senior dog Einstein and smearing meatballs on his shoes to try to get the dog to like him! (Einstein is very food motivated, so it worked like a charm.) Terrific photography too! There are resources in the back about adopting senior dogs too. Just a great book all around.
December 15, 2015
What a great book....for anyone who loves not just dogs but senior dogs. The author relates various stories of senior dogs and their "second acts" - those who are saved, rescued and go on to live a fulfilled life. There are also resources for senior dog pet owners, of which I appreciated! List of agencies a plus as are the wonderful photos.
May 3, 2016
Oh, did I love this book with the heart warming stories of senior dogs who have been rescued and given a new lease on life! I will be passing this around to all my friends who love dogs! The photographs are all gorgeous! It is a must read!
December 23, 2015
Tears! Smiles! So good...
July 8, 2022
This is heartwarming. Every dog lover should read this.
March 9, 2016
I walked past this book at the library, stopped, and turned around to pick it up. Something about it just called to me and I know exactly what it was: the photography! This book has amazing photos of elderly dogs who got a second chance by being adopted. The stories are well told, also, but I think the pictures reach out to the reader more than anything. Both the stories and the photographs are touching and I actually felt as if I had met the dogs that were pictured. By the time I had finished reading my heart was warmed and my mind had been opened to some things I had not thought of before. While I am a person who would not mind adopting an elderly dog, I was surprised at some of the stories included. After reading I became desperate to research retirement homes that allowed pets, as well as some other things covered in this book. I won't tell them all, because this is a book you need to experience for yourself.
November 14, 2015
My Old Dog is by far one of the most heart-warming books I have read this year and one of my favorite pet books of all time!
If you are an animal lover, you must add this book to your library!
I invite you to visit me at Create With Joy to read my full review of My Old Dog (complete with photos and an author interview!)
If you stop by before November 29, 2015 and reside in the US, you are also eligible to enter my GIVEAWAY for an AUTOGRAPHED copy of this book!
If you are an animal lover, you must add this book to your library!
I invite you to visit me at Create With Joy to read my full review of My Old Dog (complete with photos and an author interview!)
If you stop by before November 29, 2015 and reside in the US, you are also eligible to enter my GIVEAWAY for an AUTOGRAPHED copy of this book!
December 21, 2015
I loved this book! From the beautiful photos to the wonderful, funny, touching stories - I loved everything about this book. And the icing on the cake is that it brings attention to the wonderful senior dogs out there that anyone would be lucky to have as a part of their family. This is now at the top of my list of favorite books I have read.
February 8, 2016
Story after story of people who chose to adopt older dogs from shelters and how both the dogs and their families were blessed. I loved this book!
May 24, 2021
Entertaining and moving book. Have had many dogs through my lifetime and the descriptions in this book of the joy of owning an older dog are right on. They need extra care and loving and return that many times over. Getting older myself this old dog could benefit from much of the caring described. This is a book that anyone who values having a dog should read. It will help as your best friend gets older so you can both enjoy life better together. There are suggestions on ways to help organizations that specialize in saving older dogs - tells of ways you can volunteer to help or contribute to the cause. The stories of individual dogs are very moving - a few brought tears to my eyes. One was so similar to an older rescue golden lab that we had that I had to stop and put the book down a few times getting through that story.
April 11, 2019
I got this book right after adopting my own senior dog so I could relate to a lot of the stories in this book. This is a great collection of stories about senior dogs and how their lives don't end where you necessarily think they will. They still have the power to change lives if you give them a chance.
August 25, 2019
This is a wonderful book for any dog lovers. I could see from this book that it takes special people (sometimes people with money) to take on senior animals. One couple has up to 27 seniors at a time! That's more than I could handle but it is just their thing and they do it well. The photography is beautiful and pulls at your heartstrings.
July 23, 2022
A series of vignettes about senior dogs and the people who provide them with care, a home and love in the latter part of their lives.
There are many dogs out there who need help, and navigating the rescue groups can be grueling. Recently went through this process when I tried to out of state adopt an older dog, or any dog that was difficult to place, from high kill areas of California . Some of the rescue people personalities can be a bit odd and demanding, not mentioned in this book. Or they have you fill out grueling applications and don't bother contacting. Or they lead you on about a dog then cancel at the last moment. Or they set impossibly high standards for living situations. Some won't adopt to someone in an apartment, for example, or with children, or they don't like your neighborhood, etc.
For the rescuers part, I can imagine it is difficult to place dogs in homes and know they will receive good care, and the sad stories the rescuers see might make them a bit wary. However perhaps some are preventing dogs from be re-homed due to their personal tastes. Not everyone can be George Cloony or the Nordstroms, or famous authors with $45k extra a year to feed and provide care to dogs, but they can provide a high quality of care and make a dog very happy.
My personal search for a senior dog or dog no one wanted ended up with a bonded pair of four month old puppies from a high kill area of California. I literally did not care what the dog looked like or age or anything else, would take a small dog as long as they wouldn't hurt the elderly small dog my neighbor gave me before he passed away. I ended up with California backyard oops dogs (how do people breed Pit Bull with tiny toy breeds?) and they have been the strangest dogs I've worked with and amazing at the same time.
They were difficult to place because their rescuer decided that they had to go as a pair. Puppies are usually very easily and quickly placed, but interest waned when the prospective owners were told they were a bonded pair. Most people wanted the female. The brother needed the sister to help him navigate life and to feel more confident. They are a joy to watch, and at a year old now she is still helping guide her brother, helping him learn and most importantly, keeping his ears squeaky clean. He is a delight, a clown, a cuddly sweetheart who holds his nose up for kisses. They are definitely better together. Couldn't have received better dogs even if I hand picked them myself.
Very pleased people are recognizing the seniors and the hard to place dogs. One thing they don't mention is that dogs with a history of abuse can suffer from PTSD and be triggered. That might have been part of the police dog story. The book is kind of misleading on how 'relaxed' older dogs are when they can certainly have mental suffering from past abuse. Eventually they can calm down, but still be triggered at a later point in time. They can arrive with a host of behavioral issues along with the physical issues noted in the book. The book doesn't really note that sometimes behavior is very entrenched, and while an older dog can make some changes, other areas might not ever budge much due to breed, temperament, and early lack of training or bad training. Mixed dogs will have quirks from their various breeds. My little 12 lb boy is a chunk for a small dog, having pit bull and cattle dog in his background. He does try to herd people and cats and anything else and he and his sister have extremely high prey drive and degree of "wolfiness". They need very gentle training methods and careful handling to not ruin them and make them permanently "spooky". They literally respond to a soft but stern talking to about an issue where someone might yell at a dog, it would not work with them.
Overall a fun glowing book about helping the senior dog population and promoting senior or geriatric dog re-homing, which I really appreciate, but doesn't dig into the other factors when dealing with rescues. There is a lot of information on the internet about how to help dogs with rough past lives.
There are many dogs out there who need help, and navigating the rescue groups can be grueling. Recently went through this process when I tried to out of state adopt an older dog, or any dog that was difficult to place, from high kill areas of California . Some of the rescue people personalities can be a bit odd and demanding, not mentioned in this book. Or they have you fill out grueling applications and don't bother contacting. Or they lead you on about a dog then cancel at the last moment. Or they set impossibly high standards for living situations. Some won't adopt to someone in an apartment, for example, or with children, or they don't like your neighborhood, etc.
For the rescuers part, I can imagine it is difficult to place dogs in homes and know they will receive good care, and the sad stories the rescuers see might make them a bit wary. However perhaps some are preventing dogs from be re-homed due to their personal tastes. Not everyone can be George Cloony or the Nordstroms, or famous authors with $45k extra a year to feed and provide care to dogs, but they can provide a high quality of care and make a dog very happy.
My personal search for a senior dog or dog no one wanted ended up with a bonded pair of four month old puppies from a high kill area of California. I literally did not care what the dog looked like or age or anything else, would take a small dog as long as they wouldn't hurt the elderly small dog my neighbor gave me before he passed away. I ended up with California backyard oops dogs (how do people breed Pit Bull with tiny toy breeds?) and they have been the strangest dogs I've worked with and amazing at the same time.
They were difficult to place because their rescuer decided that they had to go as a pair. Puppies are usually very easily and quickly placed, but interest waned when the prospective owners were told they were a bonded pair. Most people wanted the female. The brother needed the sister to help him navigate life and to feel more confident. They are a joy to watch, and at a year old now she is still helping guide her brother, helping him learn and most importantly, keeping his ears squeaky clean. He is a delight, a clown, a cuddly sweetheart who holds his nose up for kisses. They are definitely better together. Couldn't have received better dogs even if I hand picked them myself.
Very pleased people are recognizing the seniors and the hard to place dogs. One thing they don't mention is that dogs with a history of abuse can suffer from PTSD and be triggered. That might have been part of the police dog story. The book is kind of misleading on how 'relaxed' older dogs are when they can certainly have mental suffering from past abuse. Eventually they can calm down, but still be triggered at a later point in time. They can arrive with a host of behavioral issues along with the physical issues noted in the book. The book doesn't really note that sometimes behavior is very entrenched, and while an older dog can make some changes, other areas might not ever budge much due to breed, temperament, and early lack of training or bad training. Mixed dogs will have quirks from their various breeds. My little 12 lb boy is a chunk for a small dog, having pit bull and cattle dog in his background. He does try to herd people and cats and anything else and he and his sister have extremely high prey drive and degree of "wolfiness". They need very gentle training methods and careful handling to not ruin them and make them permanently "spooky". They literally respond to a soft but stern talking to about an issue where someone might yell at a dog, it would not work with them.
Overall a fun glowing book about helping the senior dog population and promoting senior or geriatric dog re-homing, which I really appreciate, but doesn't dig into the other factors when dealing with rescues. There is a lot of information on the internet about how to help dogs with rough past lives.
September 14, 2017
I especially enjoyed the chapter on George Clooney and his adopted senior. Each story made me want to run right out and adopt a senior dog, which sent me searching via Petfinder (something I try not to do). I found a couple of older dogs locally, and then reminded myself that I already have two seniors--both rescued as adult dogs. There will surely be another adopted senior in my future, but for now I'm holding at two. The book does a good job of extolling the benefits of skipping the puppy and adolescent years and going straight to the golden ones.
December 18, 2019
Ms. Coffey is doing a fabulous job of selling the idea of rescuing a senior pet. I read the book from cover to cover. And we just might do this. And good for her. She's full of heart and compassion. Why should a sweet dog who's been a good, faithful companion all their life and whose owner dies, end up spending their last days in a shelter? If you have room for a senior rescue, think seriously about it. We should get them all out and having fun. That's what they deserve.
December 10, 2020
As a dog lover living with 3 senior dogs and one almost senior dog this book really touched me. At times I teared up from the stories. It also gave me a lot of hope for senior dogs knowing there are people that deeply care about rescuing, caring for, loving them and providing them with a comfortable place to live out whatever time they have.
May 30, 2025
I can't remember if I bought this at Best Friends or Amazon or a book store, but I know I bought it because I knew Lori Fusaro when I worked at Best Friends. I'm always happy to support dog rescue efforts especially for those that fall by the wayside.
This has some really beautiful, diverse stories, as well as some great information for people who want to adopt or help seniors. I'm so glad to see how much more awareness and effort exists since this book was published!
This has some really beautiful, diverse stories, as well as some great information for people who want to adopt or help seniors. I'm so glad to see how much more awareness and effort exists since this book was published!
July 20, 2017
I laughed, I cried, I cried, and laughed again. Then when I got home I hugged my old girl. Dobby is a 12 year old GSD that we rescued 2 years ago and I would not trade her for all the money in the world. My next rescue will again be an older dog. This book just reinforced that.
June 12, 2017
This is a must read for all dog lovers! Touching stories and beautiful photos....keep some tissues handy!
July 18, 2017
Pulls on the heartstrings, but the dogs are cute so you don't really mind.
December 14, 2019
Some great advice for caring for older dogs, along with beautiful stories
February 20, 2022
Great images and stories. Makes you want to adopt an older dog.
March 24, 2022
Wonderful photos and stories of rescued pets and their owners. Sad and redemptive at the same time. A couple of the stories are challenging.
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November 29, 2022This book will open the door for you to look at adopting an older dog and not focusing on having a puppy. None of us should be thrown away because we are old.
November 12, 2024
One of my favorites
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews