even though the life span of a dog averages between 12 and 14 years taking care of an old pet is no easy task while the breed of the dog might boast of longevity long life and good health dont necessary go hand in hand for both the pet and its owner but most of them will not give up on their pets at any cost for pet owners abandoning an old and sometimes an ill pet is unthinkable vashi resident 70yearold virendra arte and his 64 yearold wife vidya look after their 11yearold german shepherd max and live in a threestorey building max suffers from severe arthritis his hind legs have become extremely weak if the lift doesnt work it is impossible for him to climb the steps then we have to get help to carry him up virendra said ask him what it is like to look after an old dog and he says very difficult he is a well behaved dog and obviously there is a lot of attachment to him but taking him down thrice a day for a walk does take its toll on us but for us he is family and always will be he said with a smile sixtyyearold sita mangalik also a resident of vashi lives with magic her 17yearold lhasa apso who cannot move without help but mangalik despite her own advancing age goes about caring for magic as her own child she has been with us for 17 years but now cannot walk so we take him for a ride magic has advanced arthritis in her legs and sometimes find it difficult to stand and drink water so we feed him carry him and put him to bed and clean his mess too said mangalik who adds there is no way he would be cast off i will care for him as long as it takes she added belapur resident 52yearold anjana sahi is lucky her 14yearold spitz jimmy has no major ailment except for a developing cataract the doctors have advised us against having her operated so well have to wait and see her eyesight is not completely gone there is partial eyesight so for now its okay said anjana witha smile resident of kamothe rama srinivasan refers to her pets as her canine daughters the 60 yearold lives with 13yearold fluffy a mixed terrier and 10yearold pepsi an indian dog i have always lived with pets she said while pepsi has no major ailments fluffy she says is developing cataract she cannot see from a distance but because of her age the doctors have advised her against surgery i cant say about the future but yes i am prepared and will certainly care for them she addedapart from giving her pets her best she also ensures that they get proper nutrition and adequate medication i have a doctor coming over once in two months for regular checkups as well as to deworm them and have their nails