The first 30 days with a senior dog
Our founder adopted a 12-year-old. Here's what she learned.
Oct 22, 2025 · 9 min read · Becky Chen, Founder
I'm three months into owning Murphy, a 12-year-old beagle with bad knees and a heart murmur. These are the things nobody told me before week one.
1. They won't love you right away. And that's okay. Murphy ignored me for the first 9 days. He watched every room I entered. He flinched when I touched him above the tail. We just coexisted — I'd sit on the floor and read, he'd lie 6 feet away and watch me.
On day 10, he slept on my bed. Day 14, he rested his chin on my foot. Day 30, he leaned into me when I cried about my dad. They come to you on their own time.
2. The first vet visit is the most important one. We spent $480 on bloodwork, urinalysis, a heart ultrasound, and a senior panel. It was worth it. We caught a thyroid issue we would've missed for years and now he's on a cheap daily med.
3. Stairs become a project. We bought a set of pet stairs from Amazon for $39. They're ugly. They work. Murphy does them 4 times a day. My lower back thanks me.
4. You can't outrun the clock, but you can give them a great 6 months. Quality of life over quantity, every vet will tell you. We are not trying to add years. We're trying to add good days.
5. The grief starts early. I cried in the car after the second vet visit. My partner held my hand and didn't say anything. You'll know when it starts. Let it.
