Potato Chip is a seventeen-year-old Chihuahua I adopted from PAWS Shelter of Central Texas three and a half years ago. At the time, I had an eight-year-old boxer, Milton, who I had also adopted from PAWS, so I wasn’t looking for another dog.

But, looking for a puppy for a friend, I stumbled across Chip’s little mugshot on the PAWS website. I couldn’t resist clicking on his bio, and I learned that he had been returned to the shelter after being in a home for the past four years. I had been wanting to foster another senior dog for a while, but Milton was always a bit persnickety when it came to meeting new pups. I decided to reach out to PAWS anyway and inquire about the tiny, gray-faced nugget named Chip. The next day, I took him home to try fostering. He and my choosy Milton hit it off right away, so I officially adopted him that weekend.

When Chip came home, he was mostly hairless and in desperate need of dental work. He was quickly diagnosed with hypothyroidism and severe chronic allergies. He’s even allergic to human dander—who knew? But thanks to the help of Dr. Nichols at Animal Allergy and Dermatology Center, and the team at Lake Austin Boulevard Animal Hospital, Chip is healthy and has grown back most of his hair, even though he’s lost most of his teeth!

Last year, Chip and I decided to start fostering senior and hospice dogs here in Austin. We have welcomed five dogs into our home so far, and we plan to continue fostering for years to come. Chip has helped teach his foster siblings how to be a dog again. Although Chip is often referred to as the tiniest curmudgeon you’ll ever meet, he has stolen the hearts of everyone who has crossed his path. He loves visiting breweries, restaurants, and events all around town. Just put him in his pouch, and he is ready to go adventuring! My love for senior dogs began with my first boxer, Millie, and has grown stronger with each gray-faced dog I’ve helped find a forever home.