90 days with our 11 year old shelter rescue and i want to tell anyone considering a senior, do it

His name is Walter. He was at the shelter for 8 months because he is 11, has heartworm history, and a benign tumor on his shoulder that looks scarier than it is. They told us he had been at three different homes in his life and we were possibly his last shot. We brought him home in February and i was nervous the entire drive.

The first week he wouldnt make eye contact. He ate his food facing a corner. He flinched if i moved my hand toward the leash too fast. He didnt know his name, didnt know sit, didnt seem to know what a toy was for. The shelter said he was housetrained but he had two accidents the first day, which honestly was fair, he had no idea where he was.

Week three he started leaning on me when i sat on the floor. Week five he played with a stuffed squirrel for 11 minutes straight, throwing it in the air and pouncing on it like a puppy. Week seven he learned that the cookie jar means cookie. Last weekend i caught him sleeping on his back with all four legs in the air, snoring loud enough to hear from the next room.

I am writing this because the entire time we were at the shelter i kept hearing well meaning friends and family say things like "are you sure" and "what if you only get a year with him" and "wouldnt a younger dog be easier." And the answer to all of that is, yes maybe one year, but it is one year that he gets to be on a couch with people who say his name like its a love song. I cant believe anyone gave him up. I also cant believe how much we get back from him every single day. If you are on the fence about a senior, please go meet one. They know exactly what is happening when you take them home and they remember.