The treatment of a senior rescue dog who was adopted from a shelter as a puppy only to be given up, at age 15, after showing signs of dementia, has sparked anger.
Shane Yasser is a hospice foster carer for the San Antonio city shelter in Texas and organizations like God’s Dogs Rescue. He first drew attention to the plight of Brittany the senior rescue in a video posted to TikTok under the handle @adoptdontshopsatx.
Providing hospice care to shelter dogs is essential and ensures that many of these stricken canines, struggling through illness in unfamiliar surroundings, find some modicum of peace. It is important work, but Yasser can find it difficult. “You cannot imagine how being a foster for seniors and medical dogs can break your soul and heart, and right now, I cannot stop crying,” he told Newsweek.
Every dog is deserving of love and affection. That’s what Yasser and his partner provide each and every one of their foster dogs. It is something that can have a huge impact, too. In 2018, a study of 55 rescue canines published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science highlighted how just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting was enough to boost the overall well-being of a shelter dog.
When Yasser initially came to the aid of Brittany, he had no idea about her condition. “We picked her up from the shelter and we didn’t know anything about the dementia until she started to show some signs,” he said.
A 2020 study published in the journal Scientific Reports two years later found that around 1.4 percent of the 27,542 dogs involved in the research were affected by canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). Disrupted sleep, forgetfulness, and walking into things are among the most common symptoms to look out for, with this study indicating that the likelihood of a dog developing CCD rises 52 percent every year they are alive.
Yasser has seen dogs like Brittany before. “Like with many of my other geriatric fosters, they start acting up or they are not pretty like before, so, instead of taking them to the vet to see what they can do, they just surrender them,” he said.
It is impossible to know the circumstances that led to Brittany’s surrender. She was adopted in 2009 as a puppy before being returned by the same owner 15 years later, but the sad reality is that caring for a dog with dementia can be both emotionally and financially draining.
In some cases, it may be that a pet owner simply cannot afford to provide this care or is unable to commit the time required. However, Brittany could have been better cared for in a specialist animal rescue, rather than the city pound. It is a situation that angered Yasser, so much so he felt compelled to share a clip of her, during their time together, alongside a message to her previous owners. It read simply: “shame on u,” for giving her up in these circumstances after 15 years of her living as part of the family.
Thankfully, Brittany has found another family of sorts since then in the form of God’s Dog Rescue. This is a nonprofit shelter organization that has agreed to sponsor her ongoing veterinary care and the various treatments and medications required.
Julianne Marchbanks, the founder of God’s Dog Rescue, told Newsweek: “We heard about her return to the pound and pulled her as a rescue to give her the best days, weeks or months of her life. She is a sweet girl, having a hard time with fear, panic and anxiety.”
Thankfully, important steps have already been taken to improve Brittany’s situation. “Our vet has prescribed meds to help, and it is helping a little,” Marchbanks said. “We love her and will do what we can until she appears to be suffering physically, mentally or emotionally, and then we will get her a big burger and let her rest.”
Brittany is staying with an experienced foster carer who knows just how to take care of a dog with dementia. It is the best possible outcome for this stricken pup. Sadly, as Yasser said, not every dog he encounters is quite so fortunate. “Brittany got lucky that a good rescue helped her and paid a good veterinarian,” he added. “My other two geriatric dogs are fosters from that city shelter, and they just get the basics.”
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