Really, really old dogs

October 23, 2014 5:18 AM

"Photographer Pete Thorne has discovered that, just as photographing the elderly can make for powerful portraits, the same can be said for old dogs as well. His “Old Faithful” photo series takes a warm and intimate look at man’s best friends as they live out their golden years."
posted by Jacqueline (26 comments total)

Who's a good boy?

YOU ARE! YES YOU ARE!!!
posted by Jacqueline at 5:21 AM on October 23, 2014 [5 favorites]

I look at it and know that they are all loved. Now I think of my dog and know that one day, she will no longer be with us. Her breed has an average lifespan of 13 years, and she's only six, but her brown markings are already mostly gray. If I wasn't at work I would go give her a hug and listen to her exasperated sigh as I manhandle her... again.
posted by Badgermann at 5:26 AM on October 23, 2014 [4 favorites]

My dog, who is absolutely 100% not allowed on the furniture, and I are sitting here on the lazyboy looking at these and missing his litter brother who had to go in January.


I'm not sure how much longer he's got. Glad for today.
posted by chasles at 5:42 AM on October 23, 2014 [4 favorites]

You might also want to take a look at Isa Leshko's Elderly Animals series.
posted by sobarel at 5:42 AM on October 23, 2014 [2 favorites]

Two big dogs, one has no eyes.

Dust? No. I offer no excuse. The last pic makes me cry.
posted by vapidave at 5:49 AM on October 23, 2014 [4 favorites]

That's heartbreaking... As I was looking at those photos, my pup brought me a towel, I believe she knew I would need it. Honestly, I think she understands a lot more than I give her credit for.
posted by HuronBob at 6:00 AM on October 23, 2014 [7 favorites]

I am sort of startled by the way old dogs' teeth and eyes either get really prominent or disappear.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:02 AM on October 23, 2014

I'm a sucker for a grizzled muzzle. Thanks for the post.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:10 AM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]

When I was a kid we had a dog who we trained to bring us her leash on command. We'd say "leash" and she'd run off and find the leash and bring it back to us, set it at our feet, and then start jumping up and down excitedly. Eventually she went completely blind from cataracts, but for a while when she could still see a bit, she would fetch us anything that looked remotely like a leash, belts mostly. It was sad, but also adorable. Old dogs are great.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:12 AM on October 23, 2014 [4 favorites]

Oh great. Just when I didn't want to cry... But really, thank you. This is very touching.
posted by malaprohibita at 6:19 AM on October 23, 2014

I love all of these, but particularly the ones where the old ones just gaze directly at the camera. They may well be just wondering where the next treat is coming from, but they look like they have all the wisdom of the ages.
posted by Cocodrillo at 6:20 AM on October 23, 2014 [3 favorites]

"Awww my eyes got full of rain..."
posted by echocollate at 6:22 AM on October 23, 2014

I have met Hazel the blind pug from this link a few times at the dog park! She is an awesome old pup with a lovely owner, and that's a beautiful photo of her. These are all lovely pups. I go to meetups held by a fantastic rescue/"beagle repair shop" that mostly helps older dogs and they are just great dogs who are still full of personality and deserve a chance.
posted by jamesonandwater at 6:28 AM on October 23, 2014 [4 favorites]

Quick, for instant YouTube gold, do the full Ken Burns on these photos, and have this Chris Coole number as the soundtrack: Old Dog.
posted by scruss at 6:35 AM on October 23, 2014 [2 favorites]

One of my "if I won the lottery" ideas is to open an Old Dogs Retirement Home for old shelter dogs. It would be on many, many fenced acres with lots of oak trees (with lots of squirrels to watch, and occasionally lumber after). There would be comfortable blankets and low cushions under the trees, water bowls and soft toys everywhere, and plenty of staff for pats and scritches. All of the food would be soft and delicious and plentiful. There would be a full-time vet on staff to keep an eye on the dogs to make sure that they were happy and not in pain. And I would somehow rig the sky so that there would always be sunbeams to lay in.
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:38 AM on October 23, 2014 [15 favorites]

Oh wow, this is hard on the heartstrings this morning. My little buddy of 17 years died in my arms last Sunday and the last few mornings have been...hard.

Our canine companions are with us as long as they can be, and these portraits are an excellent tribute to each's indomitable spirit. Thank you.
posted by whimsicalnymph at 6:49 AM on October 23, 2014 [14 favorites]

Elly - you might not have the millions yourself (yet!) but those sort of homes exist (that's one near me, I am sure there are many) and will use even five bucks wisely if you can spare it!
posted by jamesonandwater at 6:52 AM on October 23, 2014

We have one too! I follow their facebook page. Sometimes it makes me sad when they post their adopted dogs that were "helped over the rainbow bridge", but all the old dogs look so happy.
posted by Twain Device at 6:58 AM on October 23, 2014 [2 favorites]

I want to do the same sort of thing, but for cats.
posted by Jacqueline at 7:14 AM on October 23, 2014 [2 favorites]

The last few years I've had quite a few funerals to attend. It usually falls on me to put together the photo montage thing, since I scanned in a bunch of family albums. My own doggie is getting up there in years. So I've started mentally assembling the montage I know I'm going to have to do for him. Even though we probably won't be showing it on a loop at a funeral home. I actually find it very cathartic to do those things.
posted by DigDoug at 7:15 AM on October 23, 2014 [3 favorites]

I used to put this quote on condolence cards we sent to clients at the vet hospital where I used to work, and I think it's appropriate for this thread as well.

For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they are more finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other Nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time.

-- Henry Beston, The Outermost House

posted by Rock Steady at 7:17 AM on October 23, 2014 [11 favorites]

It's a pleasure and an honor to live with a firecracker of a Boston Terrier whose muzz has just started to turn grey. Totally agree that a greying muzz looks very distinguished, and is maybe even more heartbreakingly beautiful than a youthful one. I treasure the process of caring for him as he ages like very few other things in the world.

I have no idea how old my guy is -- 7? 8? AC&C picked him up off the mean streets of Chicago -- but every day, I take some time out to bask in the incredible luck that somehow resulted in me winding up with the kind of pup who will come up and wearily rest his chin in your hands if you hold them out toward him, a gesture I can only assume is meant to provide keen-eyed observers with the opportunity to enjoy a careful examination of his brilliantly walrus-like whiskers, regal nose nub, and dangly little jowls.

I love all of these darling, perfect babies (regardless of age, 100% of dogs must be referred to as puppies or babies in my book). Dogs are the best people, the best everything. Please everyone give your wonderful puppies an ear scritch and a biscuit for me. Thank you for the post, Jacqueline. Now if you'll excuse me, someone appears to have started cutting onions in my cubicle.
posted by divined by radio at 8:16 AM on October 23, 2014 [9 favorites]

Oh, you beauties.
posted by minsies at 9:52 AM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]

My wonderful dog is about 13 and my parents are in the second half of their 70s. Everyone's doing fine now but oh boy I'm bracing for a rough decade.
posted by tangerine at 12:00 PM on October 23, 2014 [2 favorites]

Love this from the beagle rescue site linked above:

"If I didn't have dogs ...... I would not have to answer the question why do I have so many dogs from people who will never have the joy in their life of knowing they are loved unconditionally by something as close to an angel as they will ever get. Who else has a friend who considers you the MOST important thing in the whole wide world all the time."

So true.
posted by blucevalo at 12:22 PM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]

Pulitzer winners and dog lovers Gene Weingarten and Michael Williamson have a fabulous book of photos/text on old dogs: Old Dogs are the Best Dogs.
posted by jburka at 3:51 PM on October 23, 2014