How can you take care of a pet dog when you live alone and decrepit?

Timewise 60+ said:
Elsie...from the title of this post and your comment...I think you probably are not up to taking care of a pet.
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I was only wondering how they who have a pet(s) and live alone, manage to take care of the pet's needs. I've no plan to have a pet. :)
 

One of my neighbors is within the decrepit range, and he creeps down the hallway slowly with his walker and with his dog on a leash. He has one of those retractable leashes and I'm guessing he sits down on a bench outside and lets the dog go to the end of the leash. I'm not sure how he scoops the poop.

My mom would simply open the door to the backyard for her/our dogs to run out and do their business. I think she used a grooming service that picked up and delivered dogs back home.

I'd love to get a dog in the future (maybe in 5 years), it will definitely need to be very small. I was watching a YouTube yesterday of the best dogs for aged seniors (basically tiny calm breeds).

Right now I only have a cat and I'm wondering how to deal with kitty litter as I get older. Bending down to clean the litter box is getting to be a hassle (at least it was this past month while I had a pinched lumbar spinal nerve problem). There is a neighbor whose cats I took care of while she was away, and they have one the automatic self-scooping litter boxes, and it would not be a good solution for me because it kept getting gummed up and I had to squat down trying to get it to work, it would have been easier and faster to just scoop myself.

I was looking at this elevated litter box on Amazon, but it doesn't have any real sounding reviews yet. I'm thinking there might be a cheaper way to do it. Also, I don't know if cats figure out where their box is when its up high?

elevated litter box.jpg
 
HoneyNut said:
One of my neighbors is within the decrepit range, and he creeps down the hallway slowly with his walker and with his dog on a leash. He has one of those retractable leashes and I'm guessing he sits down on a bench outside and lets the dog go to the end of the leash. I'm not sure how he scoops the poop.

My mom would simply open the door to the backyard for her/our dogs to run out and do their business. I think she used a grooming service that picked up and delivered dogs back home.

I'd love to get a dog in the future (maybe in 5 years), it will definitely need to be very small. I was watching a YouTube yesterday of the best dogs for aged seniors (basically tiny calm breeds).

Right now I only have a cat and I'm wondering how to deal with kitty litter as I get older. Bending down to clean the litter box is getting to be a hassle (at least it was this past month while I had a pinched lumbar spinal nerve problem). There is a neighbor whose cats I took care of while she was away, and they have one the automatic self-scooping litter boxes, and it would not be a good solution for me because it kept getting gummed up and I had to squat down trying to get it to work, it would have been easier and faster to just scoop myself.

I was looking at this elevated litter box on Amazon, but it doesn't have any real sounding reviews yet. I'm thinking there might be a cheaper way to do it. Also, I don't know if cats figure out where their box is when its up high?

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Interesting HoneyNut, and informative. :)
 
I could take care of a pet, but my concern is if I had to go to the hospital for an extended stay because no one would be at my home to take care of it. Another concern would be if the pet may outlive me. For those who have family members who would take over the care, that's not a problem, but I do not have any family member who would take on that responsibility.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I could take care of a pet, but my concern is if I had to go to the hospital for an extended stay because no one would be at my home to take care of it. Another concern would be if the pet may outlive me. For those who have family members who would take over the care, that's not a problem, but I do not have any family member who would take on that responsibility.
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That is exactly why I don't have a couple of cats. If I get hauled out of my home on a stretcher, alive or not, what will happen to my beloved pets? And already I've been taken out on a stretcher, but thankfully I didn't have pets at the time.
 
HoneyNut said:
One of my neighbors is within the decrepit range, and he creeps down the hallway slowly with his walker and with his dog on a leash. He has one of those retractable leashes and I'm guessing he sits down on a bench outside and lets the dog go to the end of the leash. I'm not sure how he scoops the poop.

My mom would simply open the door to the backyard for her/our dogs to run out and do their business. I think she used a grooming service that picked up and delivered dogs back home.

I'd love to get a dog in the future (maybe in 5 years), it will definitely need to be very small. I was watching a YouTube yesterday of the best dogs for aged seniors (basically tiny calm breeds).

Right now I only have a cat and I'm wondering how to deal with kitty litter as I get older. Bending down to clean the litter box is getting to be a hassle (at least it was this past month while I had a pinched lumbar spinal nerve problem). There is a neighbor whose cats I took care of while she was away, and they have one the automatic self-scooping litter boxes, and it would not be a good solution for me because it kept getting gummed up and I had to squat down trying to get it to work, it would have been easier and faster to just scoop myself.

I was looking at this elevated litter box on Amazon, but it doesn't have any real sounding reviews yet. I'm thinking there might be a cheaper way to do it. Also, I don't know if cats figure out where their box is when its up high?

View attachment 433635
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I only have cats now. I dont have any trouble with their boxes but MOm did.
I live in the country. When I had dogs they were trained to go out and come right back.

You dont have to spend all that for an elevated box.
I rigged up a "custom" setup for my Mom.
One heavy duty plastic tote liter box size..
One heavy coffee table from GW to sit it on.

You can make it whatever height is comfortable.
I used a coffee table but you could use a table or even a small dresser.
The cats will have no trouble getting in the box. .
At home I use and prefer a tote instead of a litter box.
The high sides cut down on litter flinging
and over the edge mishaps.

@hawkdon I see we think alike. :D
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I could take care of a pet, but my concern is if I had to go to the hospital for an extended stay because no one would be at my home to take care of it. Another concern would be if the pet may outlive me. For those who have family members who would take over the care, that's not a problem, but I do not have any family member who would take on that responsibility.
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That's exactly why I won't get another cat. I had a cat for twenty something years but she passed away several years ago. I considered getting another one but for the reasons you stated, I thought it would be best not to.
 
For many years, I had four dogs but now that I live in a condo I only have two. They are pad trained so that’s no issue. Someone does have to feed them twice a day. I’ve had dogs in the past that could free feed dry food and then you didn’t have to be home for a meal time.
Basically , if I can still crawl and get around at all, I will have at least one little doggy. I don’t know what I’d do without them and don’t want to live without a dog.
 
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MACKTEXAS said:
I could take care of a pet, but my concern is if I had to go to the hospital for an extended stay because no one would be at my home to take care of it. Another concern would be if the pet may outlive me. For those who have family members who would take over the care, that's not a problem, but I do not have any family member who would take on that responsibility.
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Same here which is why I'm sorry I let my huzz talk me into getting another dog.
 
For those of you here who would not consider a pet because of the reasons given and yes I agree they are valid, if the general population thought like that many more dogs and cats would end up in shelters. I for one could not be without my pets and God willing , if there comes a time that I could not care for them I know my children would look after them. I am very lucky. It is a hot topic but there are so many shelter animals that need a home, if you are able open your heart and let them in , they will bring you nothing but joy and love.
And to the OP, if you had a dog to walk your energy levels might possibly improve, so many benefits outweigh the negatives.
 
AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE A CAT AGAIN, I'VE HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO GET ONE..INSTEAD MY "PETS" ARE THE
SQUIRRELS AND BIRDS OUTSIDE...THEY LIKE THE BIRD FEED
I THROW OUT EVERY MORNING, SOMETIMES EVENING TOO...AND I HAVE A WATER DISH ON FRONT AND BACK ALSO,
SO THEY CAN HYDRATE THEMSELVES....SOMETIMES THOSE SQUIRRELS JUST CRACK ME UP WITH THEIR PLAYING....
 
My daughter and I volunteer at our local animal shelter. Paige puts in many hours, she’s their Medical Expert on site because of her training and because they can’t offers to hire an onsite Vet.

Some of the saddest cases are the pets turned into the shelter because owners have become infirm, moved to a nursing home or passed away. Sad because in many cases the pets are old too, and they’re very confused or completely shut down because of such a sudden and drastic change in their lifestyle.

A shelter is a noisy, bustling place even at the best of times, and most of those poor pets have come from calm, quiet environments and loving owners. We do everything we can to find foster families for those particular pets so life isn’t so chaotic for them, while we work to find them permanent homes.
 
About 25 years ago we had a Chihuahua that when he was full grown weighed 4 pounds. This was during the time that Taco Bell was running commercials with a Chihuahua. Friends brought us stuffed Taco Bell dogs which are still here. They are very low maintenance. He had black around his eyes like a mask. We called him "Bandito".
 
I would love to have a dog for company and hope it would keep me active. I cannot do this as my daughter has two little dogs who are very unsociable with other animals and people and I sometimes have to dog sit them when my daughter goes away on holidays
 

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