20-year-old dachshund who was homeless after losing his elderly owners is now living his best life

Life can change in an instant when our loved ones suddenly leave us. It's especially harder for animals, who rely on their owners. One such tragedy struck a 20-year-old Dachshund when his elderly owner passed away. However, the senior dog was later taken in by Vintage Pet Rescue, a Rhode Island nonprofit organization, reports Parade. The video featuring the warm welcome he received in his new home, uploaded to the official page @vintagepetrescue, has garnered over 298,100 views and 48,300 likes so far. 

The overlay text on the clip shares the details of the adoption, stating. It reads, "This week, a 20-year-old Dachshund landed in a shelter in Providence. Sadly, Sprout’s elderly owner passed, and he had nowhere to go." Luckily, a home for Sprout was already waiting, "When we got the call, we knew he belonged with us." With no one left to care for him, the senior canine was sent to a local shelter, where the cage-free retirement and hospice adopted him and ensured his remaining days would be filled with comfort, care, and love. 

"He has already seen a vet and been given vaccines and preventatives," shared the organization. Sprout's new life began with a fresh start as he took a "welcome home bath" and got ready like a good boy. The petite canine then mingled with other pets and could be seen walking slowly, trying to catch up with his new crew. "It will take some time for Sprout to settle in," the caption read. In the following clip, a staff member is seen fondly hugging the senior dog. 

However, while Sprout got a new loving home, many other senior dogs don't always land in the right hands. As reported by ASPCA, around 607,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2024, which is about 2% fewer than in 2023. Fortunately, over the past five years, the euthanasia rate has gone down from 13% in 2019 to 8% in 2024, showing steady progress in saving more animals. According to Maddie's Fund, senior dogs face a higher risk of being euthanized in shelters, with some reporting rates that are two to three times higher than the overall euthanasia rate for all dogs.

This initiative by the organization also received a lot of love from the internet users, with many leaving warm messages in the comment section. @freefromfairytales wrote, "I just know that owner was trying to hang on so Sprout would be in heaven waiting instead of the other way around." @banana4scale commented, "Our hearts break when we lose our pets. I bet theirs breaks too when they lose their people. Thank you for giving him a soft place to land." @lkristofek shared, "Must be so sad and confusing to lose your best friend and then be taken away from everything familiar to you. So glad he won’t be alone." @brittannyyboo wrote, "His little old man walk. He found the perfect place."

For more inspiring dog content, follow @vintagepetrescue on their TikTok account.