Why do people abandon older pets?

[Catherine]

This is a burning question. Why? What kind of person takes their pet of ten or more years out and abandons it.  I don't know what kind of person does this, but there are many of them out there. 

Recently a man drove into a parking lot, put a carrier on the ground with a ten year old dog in it and drove off. They are looking for him. He is one of many.

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&ur...yagHh2AtMg

The numbers abandoned are alarming. Age is the 25% of the reasons giving for surrendering a dog at a shelter. It shows an attitude towards our dogs that does not make us look good. We are also not good with our older humans relatives either.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...DQ5gM3bovI

There is a rescue group that specializes in older dogs. It is a wonderful thing to choose an older dog that someone else has dumped. They make a point of taking old dogs out of shelters and giving them a chance at life again.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...1t2yFfFzw6

I came across a letter written by a woman who adopted and old dog. It is sad, but it is worth reading. When people dump an old dog they leave the rest of us to be there for their pet. They fail to do what they committed to do when they bought a pet in the first place, be there to the end.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...7aRyX3WbcR

I don't have old dogs, but I have taken in old guinea pigs. Who dumps an old guinea pig at a shelter days before Christmas!
Rosie died in my arms 15 months later, but we had fun for those 15 months!