Allie is another of the dogs who will be in our fall print newsletter, which is our annual "originals" edition featuring animals who have been with us the longest. In Allie's case, she came way back in 2005 from a California family. They had two small toddlers, and after Allie went blind she began knocking over the children when she walked around the house. The family tried for a year to find someone who would take her -- relatives, friends, local rescue groups -- but no one agreed. They finally contacted us, and we said yes. Then the husband flew out to Montana with Allie to drop her off at the ranch.
She's mostly deaf, too. Allie can hear only very loud sounds very close to her, usually within a radius of about 10 to 15 feet or so.
Her favorite activity is playing with a tennis ball or chewing on a kong, which she can do uninterrupted for hours on end. Nothing makes her happier than a fresh tennis ball or kong! (Simple pleasures, eh?)
Allie doesn't do well with female dogs, so her companions in her play yard during the day are Travis and Jake the blind hound. Still, she pretty much sticks to herself and her toys.
"People and dogs are fickle," Allie says. "Kongs are forever."
---
New Shelter Challenge Begins
The latest round of the Shelter Challenge is underway and runs until October 13. You can vote every day here. To search for us, type in our name, Rolling Dog Farm, and Lancaster, NH 03584.
They have redesigned the contest site and made other changes. Please note that I cannot help with technical or voting problems. I also do not have an "inside track" to anyone at the Shelter Challenge, and I don't know any more about the contest than anyone else does. So if you find yourself having issues, please consult their FAQ page here and their Rules page, which is a pop-up you can find linked on this page.
Thanks for your votes!
LOVE!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | September 12, 2013 at 04:17 PM
TOO OLD - THAT SHOULD BE THE REASON TO ADOPT HER INTO ANOTHER LOVING HOME. BUT HEY ALLIE, THEIR LOSS.
Posted by: FELICIA | September 12, 2013 at 03:14 PM
Allie,
SO nice to see your picture and know your story.
You are such a sweet girl and I am so happy that you found your way to RDF. Wishing you many more happy and healthy years.
Posted by: Chloe | September 12, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Sweet Allie. I'd just like to share this haiku, written by a wonderful friend of mine named Jenny ~
Young dogs will love you
but the greatest devotion
is in old dogs' eyes.
(my note: and in their heart & soul, even if they're blind)
Posted by: Diana E. | September 12, 2013 at 04:58 AM
What a sweetheart she is! She has a great home and lots of love and attention. Thanks for the update!
Posted by: Nina | September 11, 2013 at 07:04 PM
It's too bad about this prejudice against older dogs. Ten is not old at all. All the dogs I've had have lived to 16 or 17. In fact I prefer older dogs. But Allie seems perfectly content to stay where she is. She looks like a real sweetheart.
Posted by: Tonya Allen | September 11, 2013 at 05:55 PM
Ten years old is not too old to be adopted! We have had 2 dogs live to be 18+; 2 dogs, 16+; 2 to 13, plus others to less old. Three were one-dog-at-a-time and the others were two dogs overlaping in our house. The 3 single dogs we got when they were puppies. The other dogs have ranged in age from about 2 years old to 7 years old. Older dogs may require a somewhat longer adjustment to their new family but, at least for us, we just kept working on our bonding. The 7-year old I took to 3 obediance classes (for bonding) plus the class for getting his AKC Canine Good Citizen Diploma. I took him to all those classes for bonding, not because he is not bright. He is actually one of the smarter dogs we have had.
Posted by: Phyllis Snow | September 11, 2013 at 02:21 PM
Such a sweetheart. She has everything she needs. Touching post.
Posted by: Linda | September 11, 2013 at 12:53 PM
I've seen pretty Allie on the adoption list for a long time, and I only wish I could bring her home. But I have a female dog, and I know Allie prefers the company of gents. I love senior animals, and I'd like to let everyone know they're tops, so don't hesitate to choose an old(er) pet.
Posted by: Moon Rani | September 11, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Thats so interesting that she can decipher between male and female dogs, just goes to show their disabilities don't always disable them!
Posted by: Hillary | September 11, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Oh it's wonderful to see Allie. What a shame she lost her family but how lucky she has gotten to live her life with you two. I'm not sure if it was Allie or Evelyn that first brought me to Rolling Dog. I saw an article on a website about a blind black lab who immediately grabbed the closest tennis ball whenever she heard a vehicle turn on your driveway back in Montana in hope that it meant a game of fetch. After reading the article I strolled over to your blog and well, here I am still. Thank you for the update.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | September 11, 2013 at 11:35 AM
Its amazing what you do for these animals. I came upon your blog by chance and i am glad i did. I have already spread the word abt the shelter challenge and will continue to follow, donate, contribute to your effort as my situation permits. As a very new and amatuer dog owner i hope one day i am blessed enough to be able to adopt a dog from you.
Posted by: Chintan Vora | September 11, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Allie, you're not too old for anything. Agism is such a bad deal.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | September 11, 2013 at 09:33 AM
It was nice to see an unfamiliar face today. She looks like a very sweet older lady. And if she's happy lying around in the sun and playing with her tennis ball or kong toy, then what more could a girl want? She's got friends of her choosing, good meals and lots of love. We should all be so lucky.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | September 11, 2013 at 09:15 AM