What does it take to get a senior dog adopted?

It takes more than a foster home to help a senior dog get adopted.

Many volunteers work together to help everything fall into place. Cosmo has benefited from the help of these volunteers over the last 11 months or so.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped him along the way.

I can’t possibly list out everyone. I am not even aware of every individual who has helped him.

But Cosmo knows.

If you scratched him behind the ears or fed him a treat or “liked” one of his Facebook posts, it helped him.

So, what does it take to get a senior dog adopted?

Well, let’s see …

It takes a rescue organization that does not discriminate against age, and it takes a community to donate money and time to that rescue.

It takes a volunteer to process the initial information and paperwork from an “owner surrendered” dog.

It takes a foster family willing to take a chance and to discover his special needs.

It takes a boarding kennel to house the dog until a new foster home opens up. It takes understanding kennel staff to make the old guy feel safe and welcome, and it takes volunteers to bring him on walks.

It takes another volunteer to temporarily foster him, even though she has her own dogs and cats and another foster dog (sometimes more than one). This volunteer seeks out a more appropriate foster home and puts pressure on that person (me) to give it a try. She even gives him a bath first!

It takes a dog training club willing to offer discounted rates to rescue dogs. It takes volunteers to teach these obedience classes.

It takes a local photographer willing to donate her time and talent.

It takes many friends willing to go on many walks and many dogs willing to help play and socialize.

It takes two tolerant cats and the world’s best foster brother, Ace.

It takes a loving foster “dad” willing to make an adoption video.

It takes a radio station willing to allow a treat-crazed dog to run around its studio on a Wednesday morning.

It takes a volunteer willing to take him to an adoption event in Moorhead and another event in West Fargo all in the same day.

It takes one of the above volunteers to offer free pet sitting when his foster owners go on vacations.

It takes several volunteers to process adoption applications, check references, respond to emails, make tough choices and determine the best match.

It takes someone specifically looking to adopt an older dog, a new best friend. Someone willing to love a 10-year-old dog. Someone who is a senior himself.

It takes a lot of selfless people.

Thank you to all who have helped with Cosmo’s care.

Many of you spent time with Cosmo before I even met him. I don’t even know who all of you are.

But Cosmo knows.

He’s doing well because of you.