The Queen is worried about dying before her corgis. Old dogs are the best

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/15/corgi-queen-old-dogs-adopt

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Cheering news from Buckingham Palace. The Queen has decided to stop breeding corgis or having any more young dogs, because she’s now 88 and can’t bear to leave them behind when she dies. And also, a young dog bouncing around may trip her up. Quite right: our queen is so sensible. I know just how she feels. I’m too old to be falling over, and who will look after my dogs if I peg out? It’s worse for me, because I have no staff to help out, but that’s not really the problem. How can I live without a lovely dog, now that I’ve had one nearly all my life?

But I have the answer – adopt an elderly rescue dog. There are loads of them languishing in kennels, because no one wants them. Same old ageism. The elderly are a seen as a burden in dog-world as well, but I assure you, old dogs are heavenly. Mine is 11 now, and we plod along on our walkies, have a sit down on a bench, trudge a little further. It keeps us moving, people speak to us, we watch telly and have snacks together. We are not isolated. Violet snoozes in her bed most of the time, so she’s not easy to trip over. And when my lovely old dog drops off her perch, I shall get another old one, and we can both dodder about together.

If the Queen did likewise, imagine what a shining example this would be to the nation. What a golden opportunity to encourage us all to follow her example and stop breeding dogs. We have several million too many – unwanted, unloved, and some of them are corgis. Imagine how fabulous life would be for one of those, if the Queen adopted it. What fun it would have! The spacious grounds to play in, the adoring new mummy, the scores of helpers and walkers if she was too tired or busy, the accommodation, and the menu. Those lucky dogs would think they’d entered paradise.

They’d have their very own room, comfy wicker baskets, freedom to wander the royal apartments, fresh, home-cooked meals with a varied menu, including fillet steak and free-range chicken. Imagine what a happy dog that would be – out of a dismal kennel and off to Balmoral or Buckingham palace gardens. Bliss.

And if Her Majesty was still worried, she could apply for a Canine Care Card from the Dogs’ Trust, and they’ll look after her old doggies for her, when she is no longer here to do so. Also, the Queen is patron of Battersea Dogs’ Home, and visited in March this year to open their new Mary Tealby kennels, and while she was there, guess what she saw? Yes, an old corgi, Beama, aged 12, left by his owner, who went into a care home, and couldn’t take him with her. How sad. Aren’t these care homes rather heartless? But the Queen said no. Perhaps she’ll reconsider. Or perhaps another corgi will turn up there. And being patron, Her Majesty could have first dibs.

But why does it have to be a corgi? I know it’s difficult, once you get stuck on a certain breed. I am a sucker for boxers, but if old rescue corgis are a bit thin on the ground, why not try something else? All dogs are charming, once you get to know them. Perhaps she’d like Hollie, now in Battersea, age 10-and-a-half, a Jack Russell, just as lovely as a corgi, and desperate for a home.

Of course you may be elderly yourself and long to adopt an old dog, but be living on a far more modest income than Her Majesty and terrified about vets’ fees. No worries. You can still do it. No need to live all by yourself, when you can have a dog chum to the very end. Just join the Cinnamon Trust, profile your dog with them, they’ll look after him/her when you no longer can, and not in kennels, but in a proper home with a foster owner. And if you take on one of their dogs, they’ll pay your vet fees. Better still, they have a guide to pet-friendly care homes, and would you believe it, their founder has five corgis.