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A few clouds. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 49F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..
A few clouds. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 49F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: June 18, 2024 @ 7:02 pm
Johanna Carrington is all smiles with her dog Gucci, which she got from a special “Seniors for Seniors” program offered by a San Francisco pet adoption organization.
Johanna Carrington is all smiles with her dog Gucci, which she got from a special “Seniors for Seniors” program offered by a San Francisco pet adoption organization.
Johanna Carrington is like many dog lovers on the coast. She simply adores her pooch. They are bonded at the hip. There is one thing that sets the pair apart: the Moss Beach resident, who turns 102 next month, adopted her mixed-breed Chihuahua at the spry age of 100.
It began in September 2022, when Carrington found Gucci, an 11-year-old male dog, at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, where her neighbor volunteered. Gucci (then called Gnocchi) was described as a “sensitive boy” and came from a hoarding situation that involved 22 dogs in the city.
“It’s been an amazing year with Gucci,” Carrington said in a release from Muttville. “He brings me so much joy! I love it when he sits on my lap and keeps me company. Having Gucci in my life has given me someone to love and care for, and that makes a big difference at my age.”
Gucci came into Carrington’s life several months after he previous dog, Rocky, died. The pair was one of Muttville’s more heartwarming stories from its Seniors For Seniors programs, which pairs older dogs and humans together and accounts for more than a quarter of Muttville’s adoptions. According to its website, the program will waive the $250 adoption fee for people who are 62 years or older and meet other eligibility criteria. Gucci himself is about 64 years old in human years.
“When I first received Johanna’s adoption questionnaire, I was a bit surprised. One hundred years old is definitely a milestone in and of itself,” Muttville’s Adoption Counselor Alice Ensor said in the release. “We don’t often have a centenarian looking to bring home a new mutt. I knew that Johanna had to be a very special dog lover to be looking for her new furry friend ahead of her 101st birthday.”
Studies have suggested that pet ownership can improve mental health of senior adults by reducing a sense of loss and providing companionship and socialization. Friendly animals are also associated with psychological health benefits by helping people cope with pain.
Ensor noted that Carrington had a strong support system, as the dog would have a caretaker and Carrington’s daughter, Debbie, to help walk him. Along with Muttville’s Adoptions Manager Kristin Hoff, the team set up a virtual call for Carrington to see Gucci, and they processed the adoption the next day. After more than a year together, Carrington and Gucci have bonded. She buys him toys and he stays on her lap when she sits on her recliner.
“Debbie let us know that Gnocchi walked into the house and jumped right into Johanna’s lap,” Ensor said. “The best moment of all was seeing the smile on Johanna’s face in their adoption photo. Her joy was contagious, and it made me feel so good to know that I had been a small part of making that happen.”
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