When Clay Bishop walked into work at the Kentucky Animal Care Society shelter, he didn’t expect to meet the dog that would change his life.
But after seeing Bo—a 9-year-old Labrador and pit bull mix who had been left confused and alone—Bishop knew he couldn’t let him spend another night without a family.
Bo had been surrendered after his lifelong owner developed substance abuse issues and was moved into an assisted living rehabilitation facility.
The senior dog had been left without food or water for nearly a week before being rescued and brought to the shelter. Despite the trauma, Bo’s gentle nature and resilience immediately stood out.
“He was at the shelter for three weeks,” Bishop told Newsweek. “I felt so bad that an older dog like him was sitting in the shelter confused and alone. He was so anxious he didn’t eat the first three days he was at the shelter just from the nerves of having been surrendered.”
That temporary arrangement didn’t last long. “After two weeks of fostering him with the intention of giving him back, I absolutely fell in love with him and knew I had to keep him,” Bishop said. He officially adopted Bo on July 22.
As the oldest dog in the shelter, Bishop knew that Bo’s chances at adoption were slimmer than other pets. According to Shelter Animals Count, senior dog adoptions dropped by two percent in 2025, with many potential families looking for younger pets instead.
Since joining Bishop’s home, Bo has quickly fit in with his new “pack,” including Bishop’s two other dogs, Boosh and Ozzy, and he is even gentle enough to be around his pet ferrets.
“He’s an all around incredible boy and I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity and to get to give him a good life,” he said.
Now, Bo greets every day, and every person, with joy. “He’s the most positive part of my life,” Bishop said. “Everyday I wake up and he’s sleeping right by my feet in bed. When he sees that [I am awake] he comes over and gives me a big hug by putting his paws on my shoulders and giving me kisses. When I get home from work, he makes me feel like the most famous celebrity in the world, he gets zoomies and runs around my house picking up as many toys as he can—his record is four at once.”
For Bishop, adopting a senior dog has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life, and he hopes others will see the beauty in giving older pets a chance.
“I would recommend every one out there take the time to meet a senior dog in the shelter,” he said. “While they may not be able to use words, you learn so much about how they love and see the world just by caring for them. If I could say one thing to any potential adopter, I would say to just give a senior pup a chance, it may chance your life the way it did mine and you’ll be better off for it.”
