Since I normally rescue all my pets from various shelters and they also tend to be the older ones, I seldom know their “story”. Coal was different and the first puppy in my home in over 25 years. I was reading a story in the Denver Post about a litter of lab puppies that a local rescue group had saved from a Texas puppy mill. Apparently, gene testing indicated the litter was likely to develop PRA (progressive retinal atrophy). and the mill gave up the litter. I decided then and there, I would adopt one of them and learn the ins and outs of caring for a dog who would likely go blind.
Fast forward to today and Coal just recently turned 13 years old on March 1. We can’t imagine our family without this extraordinary companion who by the way, has never lost his eyesight. Other than being a bit stiff when he first gets up on a cool Colorado morning, he has a quality of life most seniors would envy.
What has contributed to his longevity? Like most labs, Coal is always hungry and we closely monitor his diet. At a strapping 105 pounds, Coal also has taken supplements since he was seven years old to help keep his joints limber. He has always been fed premium human grade food and we never miss an annual checkup.
Coal continues to love his walks in the woods (granted they are a bit shorter than in his prime!). He climbs stairs just fine and jumps up on any comfy couch or chair that is unoccupied. He might take longer naps these days and the zoomies are more infrequent, but for an old dog (the age/weight chart puts him at 101) he is pretty impressive. Most importantly, our buddy is happy and enjoying his golden years. Well done, Coal-train!