For an older girl named Samantha, life in her forever home could not be better—especially when it comes to sniffing under shrubbery. It’s Samantha’s “latest obsession,” says her adoptive mom.

Today, 13-year-old Samantha lives with her adopters, Janet and Jerry Bushey, and Cassandra, a smaller older dog, in Arizona’s Sun City Grande, a suburb of Phoenix, where Jerry Bushey is president of the community’s pet club.

In her desert home overlooking a golf course, the jack rabbits and lizards caught Samantha’s attention almost from the start. She used to sit at a glass patio door watching for them, her eyes fixated on the golf course. She no longer does that. Now, she’s more interested in “the hunt.”

On walks and trips to the dog park, she couldn’t care less about meeting new friends; instead, she’s “on the hunt at all times for critters,” Janet Bushey says. “She’s not at all interested in the other dogs. She’s only interested in the bushes. She goes from one bush to the other, poking her nose in there looking for the bunnies and lizards. On walks, Cassandra is on the sidewalk and Samantha pulls toward the bushes. She has yet to catch one, and I hope she never does.”

At home, Samantha plays with a basket full of toys and spends time with the Busheys, who are both retired. Samantha is a little hard of hearing, and partially incontinent, which isn’t always easy for adopters to cope with. For the Busheys, however, the incontinence is not a big issue; they have tile floors throughout their house. “We call it fallout,” Bushey says. “We say to each other, ‘There’s some fallout on the floor.’ I use a lot of disinfecting floor wipes.”

Betsy Kidder, one of Samantha’s former caregivers at the sanctuary, couldn’t be more pleased about her new life. “I remember when she went on her first sleepover,” she says. “I was so excited for Sam that day.”

Samantha needed to go on an overnight with visitors who knew to expect “accidents,” so she stayed with volunteers at the Best Friends cottages on the sanctuary grounds.

“She was so excited to leave, like she was embarking on a new adventure,” Betsy says. “When she came back the next morning, the volunteers said she had been perfect. I knew it wouldn't be long for our girl. I knew she would get the home that she so deserved, and she finally did.”

Samantha isn’t the first older dog the Busheys have taken in. In 2007, they adopted Chili, a 10-year-old heeler mix who had arrived at Best Friends that April after she was found abandoned in a home in St. George, Utah. After Chili passed away the following year, the couple wanted to give another older dog a final home, and in late 2008, they adopted Samantha.

“My heart goes out to the older ones,” Bushey says. “They’re in their golden years of life. I love taking care of them during their last years, making life as comfortable as possible for them.”

Written by Cathy Scott
Photos compliments of the Busheys

Do you love older dogs, too? See which ones are looking for homes on our Adorable Adoptables page!

March 18, 2009 : 10:01 AM ET
posted by: DEO

OH MY, i don´t think I have ever seen such a look of contentment and security before! Samantha looks REALLY happy! She found her angels.

March 11, 2009 : 9:44 PM ET
posted by: shazz3

Look at that SMILE on her face! She's grinning from ear to ear : D God Bless You and thank you!

March 10, 2009 : 5:03 PM ET
posted by: miacats

Good luck Samantha, you are beautiful and deserve the best!!!!!

March 9, 2009 : 11:56 AM ET
posted by: tntbarreras

God bless Jerry and Janet. If there were more people like them, this world would be a better place! I volunteer at a no-kill cat shelter in Chicago, and I too love the seniors!!!! Some are crotchety and crabby, but it makes me love them more because of their spunk!!! Thank God for people like the Busheys, Sam sounds like she is loved very, very much!

March 7, 2009 : 5:03 PM ET
posted by: pickynickie

I think this couple is wonderful in that they will take in older dogs. I don't have the words to express how extraordinary they are by doing so.

I have three dogs, and my eldest is a 15-year old Basset Hound who suffers from arthritis. She is on medication, but she can't jump onto her chair the way she once did. I'm not as spry as I once was either, but I will pick up her front, put it on the chair, then, pick up her back part and put it on the chair. It isn't good AT all for my back, with which I have problems, but I know how it feels when you can't do things now that you could formerly. I sincerely admire this couple and feel happy for the lucky 'senior citizens' they've adopted.

March 7, 2009 : 1:52 PM ET
posted by: littlepupperdog

Congratulations to Samantha and her forever family!!! We have always adopted senior dogs and cats--several with medical problems. Sunny, one of our senior dogs, also suffers from urinary incontinence. Our wonderful vet has her on a prescription med called Uricon (Phenylpropanolamine 50mg.). Sunny gets 1 tablet twice a day, and it works wonders (not 100%, but much better). There have been no side effects.

March 7, 2009 : 10:51 AM ET
posted by: marcialynns

How wonderful for Samantha to have a new home with a family that loves her. I, too, like the person from Apache Junction, am concerned about Samantha's constant sniffing under bushes. Our dog Sierra is the same way and living in a place with rattlesnakes around, we were very worried about Sierra being bitten. If we were to lose her to a snake bite, I don't know what we would do, so we finally had her snake trained. Just being on high alert isn't enough. Snakes can strike very quickly.

March 6, 2009 : 7:24 PM ET
posted by: Bipedal

This is great!!! I fell in love with Samantha when she was my overnite dog at a cabin at Best Friends. We rode into town and walked and played. I gave her a bath and she was ALL love. I'm so happy to see this. I have photos of her here at home if her new mom and dad would like copies of them. This made my day.

March 5, 2009 : 4:50 PM ET
posted by: crazysleepingcatlady

God bless the Busheys for looking beyond Sam's years and giving this dogger what she so richly deserves.....her forever home! Sam looks so very happy and loved. What a wonderful story...............

This just proves, once again, about how rich our lives can be when we bring an older or "less than perfect" animal into our hearts and our homes. What we get in return is priceless.

Thank you again for giving Sam her second chance at love!

March 5, 2009 : 1:31 PM ET
posted by: labloverkaizer

Oh how very wonderful I have eight beautiful furchildren, six of which are seniors, a 9 year old German Shepard, a 10 year old Golden, A 12 year old black lab, A 10 year old yellow lab, a 13 year old Malamute, and a 10 year old Blue heeler mix..and of course my other two which are 5 we think. Even though they are a bit more costly to care for because of the ailments that come with age, they are the most special creatures they are simply wise souls. I will forever have seniors, they are a joy. Kepp up the good work Best Friends every animal regardless of their age deserves love and a good home!!! Debbie Jarvis West Virginia

March 4, 2009 : 9:58 PM ET
posted by: scooby0422

Oh Samantha...I am so happy that you have such a wonderful home! I too, adopt senior animals...they are the best! It is such a great feeling to spoil them for whatever time they have left on this earth. Thanks to Samantha's new family!

March 4, 2009 : 11:58 AM ET
posted by: wycheck fan

Oh, she is a beautiful dog - and so happy, too! Thank you for giving her such a wonderful gift of a home and love galore!

March 4, 2009 : 10:49 AM ET
posted by: bordercolliemom

She is a beautiful dog. I'm so happy she has found a wonderful home.

March 3, 2009 : 11:19 PM ET
posted by: breezer

Making their last years comfortable? You're doing much more than that! You're giving them so much happiness and probably a few extra years to their lives as well.

March 3, 2009 : 8:10 PM ET
posted by: az2indy

To Samantha's new parents: Speaking from experience, please be on high alert when allowing Samantha to indulge in her sniffing shrubbery obsession. Our dear, sweet 11-yr-old greyhound (on a leash in a highly populated park in Apache Junction, AZ) fell victim to a rattlesnake bite on the tongue because she followed her nose. The snake was coiled under a tree in a grassy area and my husband did not see it until he heard Sophie yelp. Sadly, she had to be euthanized. I would not want you to experience this heartache EVER. Samantha is very beautiful and looks totally content on her pillow. I wish you many happy, loving years together!

March 3, 2009 : 6:50 PM ET
posted by: Rita2828

It takes special people to do what you do, thank you for helping out this beautiful girl. Many people should have a heart as big as yours.

Rita From Brooklyn

March 3, 2009 : 4:34 PM ET
posted by: donnatoepfer

I love older dogs, no potty training, no chewed up furniture, shoes, etc., they are calmer, they help me train the younger dogs that I bring home, they are the best!

Thank you for giving an older dog a loving home.

March 3, 2009 : 3:31 PM ET
posted by: babs1171

What wonderful people you are to adopt the "elder dogs" and give them such a wonderful life in their "twilight years". Great story and, obviously, very special people.

March 3, 2009 : 3:06 PM ET
posted by: Isembard

Honestly, doesn't the picture say it all? God bless to this entire lovely family.

March 3, 2009 : 2:24 PM ET
posted by: odat80

God bless you and God bless Samantha!

March 3, 2009 : 2:19 PM ET
posted by: SWISSGIRL

P.S. WHAT A WONDERFUL SMILE ON THAT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SOUL'S FACE!

March 3, 2009 : 2:18 PM ET
posted by: SWISSGIRL

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. I ALSO HAVE AN OLDER DOG WHO IS INCONTINENT, BUT I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON HER BECAUSE OF THAT. THE IDEA OF A "THROW AWAY" SOCIETY IS NOT MY IDEA OF BEING HUMAN. I TOO CLEAN UP LOTS OF "FALLOUT" BUT WHEN YOU ADD UP THE TIME, IT REALLY IS SMALL AND NOTHING COMPARED TO THE LOVE AND GRATITUDE RECEIVED IN RETURN. GLAD YOU ALL FOUND EACH OTHER!

March 3, 2009 : 2:11 PM ET
posted by: jbandk9s

Aww Samantha you look so happy, and I can see why - she's got a sofa of her own to retire on. I too am especially fond of the old guys, and they make GREAT pets. We adopted our Old Friend last year at age 12 and he is still going strong and happy. Thank you for loving Samantha and Chili.

March 3, 2009 : 1:07 PM ET
posted by: cambridgeratmom

Yay for older animals and especially for the people who adopt them!! I do hope the little lizards always stay one step ahead of you.

March 3, 2009 : 11:27 AM ET
posted by: Kittycrazy

What a sweet face! Thank you so much for taking Samantha into your home.

March 3, 2009 : 9:32 AM ET
posted by: 4theluvofthem

What a wonderful story.Bless all of you and may you have many years of happiness. It takes very special people to take in an older dog, you are to be commended for your kindness.