This IS an issue that 'senior' people have to think about when considering if they should get a new dog, jackie. You're so right.

A couple of dog shelters in Australia have come up with helpful adoption programs. They call it 'Senior Pets for Senior People'. They place older, more mellow, still healthy dogs with older owners so the senior people have pets with a shorter life span. And the shelters offer follow-up support to the senior owner, promising to lovingly care for the dog if something should happen to the owner.

Our tibetan spaniel rescue group is presently looking to rehome a beautiful- natured, basically healthy 10 yr old tib called Joe with an older person. We will offer follow-up support, by helping out if the owner or Joe ever gets ill or needs any assistance at all.