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Pets for Seniors
Humane Society Names Winners in Tales of Older
Americans and Their Pets
 May
31, 2005 The Humane Society of the U.S. announced the winners today in
their contest - "Beautiful Tails, Remarkable Tales" - honoring the
special relationship between seniors and their pets. The winner is
Maryland resident Sadae Walters and her dog, Princess.
Below is the story of Walters and Princess as
written by the humane societys Kelly Connolly. Readers can find more
about seniors and pets at
seniors and mature pets.
A Match Made in
Maryland: Contest Winners Faced Adversity Apartand Together
By Kelly Connolly
Maryland resident Sadae Walters was taking a walk
in her garden with her four year-old dog, Princess, when she lost her
footing and fell to the ground. The 75-year old Japanese-American was
still recuperating from the complications of spinal surgerya serious
operation during which she suffered a stroke that left her with
difficulty walking and a numbness on her left side. As she lay on the
ground, Walters knew she wouldn't be able to get up on her own.
Princess, a tan, floppy-eared Shepard mix, had been
with Walters for only two days. Would the dog be able to help her?
Today, Walters and Princess are a winning
combination. Capturing first place in The HSUS's "Beautiful Tails,
Remarkable Tales" contest celebrating
seniors and their pets, Walters and Princess also captured the
hearts of readers who voted to showcase the remarkable story behind
their friendship.
A Tough Road
Even before she hit that garden path, Walters was
no stranger to hardship. After a difficult childhood in Japan during
World War II, she came to America, where she married Leon Walters, an
American professor. The couple had four children, and it wasn't long
before the kids began clamoring for a family pet. Walters grew so
attached to the dog they eventually adopted that when the animal died
she determined never to go through the pain of losing a pet again. For
years, she refused to adopt another dog.
After her surgery and stroke left her in
considerable pain and limited her mobility, however, Walters became
depressed. It was her physician who first suggested that she might want
to adopt a dog to help her start walking again. At first, Walters
resisted the idea, but after her grown children had their say, she
agreed to look for a new companion.
Third Time's the Charm
Meanwhile, Princess had some complications of her
own. Discovered digging through a dumpster, the shepherd mix was brought
to the Caroline County Humane Society in Ridgely, Maryland. Although she
was adopted right away, her new owners soon found they were allergic to
dogs. Unwilling to adjust their lifestyle, they brought Princess back to
the shelter.
The dog fared no better in her second home. Adopted
by a couple who were going through a divorce, it wasn't long before
Princess was again relinquished to the CCHS.
By now, the animal was showing signs of depression
at being returned to the shelter so many times. A shelter volunteer
recognized her listlessness and moved Princess into her home. In that
nurturing environment, the dog's spirits lifted, and before long her
foster mother knew she would make someone a fine pet. But who?
When Walters met Princess, she knew immediately
that she was the dog she'd been looking for.
Walters wanted a mixed breed dog who was friendly,
patient, and loving. "She wanted to rescue a homeless dog," explains her
daughter, Amy. "She didn't want to buy a dog from a pet shop."
Amy was on the computer daily, searching for her
mother's ideal dog. But after numerous phone calls, shelter visits, and
miles logged in the car, the Walters were on the verge of giving up.
Then they discovered Princess.
Saving Grace
When Walters fell on that second day with Princess,
she did what she hoped would save her: she called out to the animal for
help. Princess seemed to understand, because she immediately trotted
over to Walters and leaned against her.
What happened next was extraordinary. Princess
stood still and braced her little body, Walters says, so that by
grasping the dog around the neck she was able to pull herself first to
her knees, then to her feet. Princess stood while Walters leaned on the
dog's shoulders to regain her balance, then walked beside her back to
the safety of the house.
Since then, whenever Princess passes by that spot
in the garden she hesitates and looks up at Walters, as if to make sure
that she is safe. "It's almost like she is telling me, 'Now remember,
you fell down here'," she marvels.
Winning Combinations
Walters' story touched thousands of people who
voted in our "Beautiful Tails, Remarkable Tales" contest. The three
finalists included a calico cat who brings new life into her home; a
miniature poodle who helps his caregiver see the world with new eyes;
and Princess, whose companionship helped Walters face the physical and
emotional challenges of recuperating from a stroke.
All three finalists received autographed versions
of Mark Asher's book
Old Friends, a beautiful coffee table book filled with stunning
black and white photos of mature pets.
But for Walters, the real prize is having Princess
in her life. With her dog at her side, Walters feels healthier and more
independent by the day. She states adamantly that Princess is the reason
she's walking again. "We take her everywhere," she says, "I feel like we
have a child. She makes us feel young."
Amy agrees: "They fill the void for each other."
And Walters admits, "It's turned out a thousand
times better than we expected."
Kelly Connolly is an Issues specialist in The HSUS
Companion Animals section.
For more information about the Humane Society of the U.S. Click Here
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