Newman Nation: Senior Pets United

06/15/2025

Howdy, I'm Yankee Doodle. Is my new family out there? I sure hope so. As a senior gentleman, a comfy home is totally ideal for me! Now, don't get the wrong idea about me...yes, I am a senior, maybe around 10-11ish years old. But I love daily walkies and am still quite spry! I weigh about 18 pounds but have a couple of pesky pounds to shed.

I still don't feel as though I have shown off my true personality yet as a lot has changed in my world recently. I was found as a stray, dropped off at MHS, got a new hairdo, had a teeth cleaning + dental done, all while adjusting to life in a kennel setting as an older pup. Even with all of that on my plate, I am such a good boy and I know I can make someone so happy.

If you are thinking of adopting me, I would be so happy if we could go for strolls so I can stay in shape. I love to be able to relax and take naps during the day so, you see, I am very well-rounded.

Let's talk about other pets and kiddos: I'm open to living with friendly cats. I still need to meet other shelter dogs. I'd prefer older kids, about 10ish and up. Okay, come meet me. I'm neutered and am waiting for you. Love, Yankee Doodle.

06/05/2025

New guy Steve got the sick kid special at the vet Tuesday as he didn’t escape the dreaded shelter ick. After IV fluids, 3 antibiotics and doxycycline at home, he’s perking up and proving himself to be the sweetest, NEEDIEST little buddy. Although he has a grade 4/6 heart murmur, his good bloodwork cleared him for surgery this summer (pending ok chest X-rays), where he will undergo a dental for his horrendous mouth, a neuter, and removal and biopsy of an a**l mass. For now, he’s more than happy to be nursed around the clock and finally off the streets. 🐾 Our vet roughly estimated his age at around 11 so hopefully he has many years left to enjoy!

06/03/2025

Forever Foster Millie, a retired lab testing dog we saved back in April of 2020, has been slowing down lately in her super senior years. It’s been a peaceful decline where she’s been eating less and sleeping more each day but still enjoying her favorite things like being outdoors in the sunshine. While Millie remains comfortable, it’s a heavy-hearted time for her foster family and all who love her so dearly to know that the time may be coming near. If only these special souls could live forever 🩷

05/29/2025

Meet Steve, our newest senior straight off the euthanasia list at an overcrowded shelter 👋 Because he needs more medical care than the shelter had resources for in order to make him adoptable, he was at risk.

As a stray, we don’t know an exact age but he’s clearly senior in years. Steve will need a full vet workup and hopefully bloodwork will clear him for surgery to tackle his remaining rotten teeth, his neuter, and the removal of a tumor next to his a**s, even with a high grade heart murmur.

It’s been a very busy and overwhelming day coming off a week-long hold period at the shelter and meeting so many new friends in his foster home, but Steve is taking it all in stride. For an older guy with a potential vision deficit in one eye and at just 6lbs, he’s proven he can hang with the best of them and has no trouble climbing stairs or climbing on your leg for pets. He is friendly with all animals and will make a great companion when he’s ready for his forever home!

Huge thanks to several supporters who had birthday fundraisers recently (like 8-year-old Rocco who got to name Steve), along with a very generous donation/company match (shoutout to Iris G.) that allowed us to save Steve’s life and feel confident we can fund all his needs. 💙

05/24/2025

05/21/2025

THIS. This is why it’s impossible to feel like you’re making any sort of difference in rescue. We simply can’t keep up. There aren’t enough fosters, adopters, or donations to cover rising veterinary costs in circulation to clean up other people’s mess. Which is essentially what you’re doing as a rescue or rescuer when you’re taking animals from shelters who all ended up there because of a human. Unfortunately, Newman Nation has had to take a major step back the last year, both due to lack of resources and in protection of my mental health. It’s heart wrenching to see this daily pet surrender line at CACC. I hope to one day live in a world where this isn’t normal. 💔

This is the intake line outside CACC and it's like this every single day. 📸

In just the first 20 days of May, we’ve averaged 56 animals coming into the shelter per day, a jump from April’s 54 per day. That may not sound huge, but at this volume, every increase stretches our already limited resources to the brink. 💔

Many of the pets in this line are arriving as strays. But many are also being surrendered by their owners... people who likely love their pets, but may not know what else to do.

🙏 If you’re thinking about surrendering your pet, please understand:

➡️ You know your pet better than anyone.
➡️ You are their best advocate.
➡️ Rehoming directly gives your pet the best chance at landing in the right home.

When a pet is brought to the shelter, they become one of hundreds. In a noisy, unfamiliar environment, even the best pets can shut down, making it harder for them to stand out. 🐾

By rehoming your pet directly, you can share their likes, needs, routines, and quirks. These are things that can make a family fall in love. ❤️ That’s information we just don’t always receive.

CACC should be a last resort, reserved for animals truly in crisis.

And we want you to know, you don’t have to make that decision alone. PAWS Chicago is also onsite at CACC five days a week during intake hours to help with diversion support. Talk to us first. Learn what resources are out there. Let’s explore other options before you get in line with your family member.

We are here to help you succeed, not separate you from your best friend.

05/20/2025

UPDATE!!! ADOPTED!!! This is Beck. She is a German Short-haired Pointer. Beck is the sweetest most loving dog. She is 10 years old. Now, a little background on Beck. Beck's life started in another shelter 10 years ago, she was adopted out a few months later. Since then, she has been sold, given away, passed around from one home to another. Never staying in one place for long. AND now that she is too old to hunt, nobody wants her. Beck's life started in a shelter and I Do Not want her life to end in a shelter! Yes she is a senior but she still has a lot of love!! She needs a TRUE home! Please help us find that for her! Beck is good with most other dogs NOT good with cats. Ready for adoption

05/18/2025

05/08/2025

Senior dog for adoption in Jasper, IN

We can’t stop thinking about Homer, our sweet senior boy who didn’t get much love at the Adopt-a-thon this past weekend. One family stopped by, but he was just a bit bigger than expected and too big for what they were looking for. We totally get it—every home has different needs! (For those curious about his size, he is about 30 pounds, give or take a little bit!)

But we know there's someone out there who is the right match. Someone who sees past his initial nervous bark and gives him a chance to settle in and feel safe.

Homer warms up with treats, kindness, and patience. He may have some years behind him, but he’s got so much love to give and life left to live. So we are on a mission to find him his perfect forever home!

05/05/2025

Newman Nation alum Vinnie and Forever Foster Millie (beagle creeping in the back) showcasing what senior pet retirement is all about ☀️

05/03/2025

⭐⭐ADOPTED⭐⭐

This buff fluff is Tamarin. He is about ten years old and is neutered and he is such a character! He’s such a sweet boy once he gets to know you and he learns to trust you. As soon as he feels safe, his purrs grow very loud and his head-bonks become very emphatic and intentional!

He makes us laugh because sometimes he looks grumpy but he seems to just like to tuck his ears back because even when they are tucked, he is purring and soliciting attention and happily eating a Churu!

Tamarin was surrendered to us as part of a hoarding situation. He still is a little unsure at times but yummy food wins his heart every time and it has been incredible to see him learn to trust us.

A home on the quiet side would most likely be where Tamarin is most comfortable. And if you have kitties who are friendly and welcoming, he may find comfort in being around them.

We are also looking for someone to adopt Tamarin "as is". We currently have him on a low-dose of steroids which we do expect him to continue on with. We had a hard time keeping weight on him but he seems to be improving lately!

We absolutely adore this little guy. We know he has all the potential to live the good life where his family can focus on him and show him how loved he is.