Honey discovered an unanticipated benefit of keeping an old dog company. They re content just to sit beside you while you garden rather than taking off after every bird. No matter how well we take care of old dogs, all their functions slow down and old immune systems are subject to bouts of illness. Their eyes fail. Hips become stiff and hind legs weaken.
Digestive systems become fragile.
Their frailties test our mettle as nothing else does. Old Yoda not only went blind and deaf, but also became completely incontinent. As have so many dog people, Nancy Duff discovered a capacity for patience and an acceptance of the daily disruptions to her life. I was cleaning up after him three and four times a day, Nancy remembered. He was really embarrassed about that.