Since I’m new, I just found out about Blog The Change For Animals
and today is the day when we share the animal causes that we’re passionate about. Yay!
I am a huge fan of Rescue, especially adopting older pets. We adopted a senior Miniature Schnauzer, Fred, a few years ago. Unfortunately we had him for less than a year, but I’m just so happy that he left this life knowing that he was loved. Here is my Fred story:
When we adopted Fred from Schnauzer Love Rescue we knew that he was thirteen, so we understood that we wouldn’t have him for years and years. I had fallen in love with his picture and his story (his family that had him since he was a puppy had given him away when they had children) and I knew that I wanted to give him a loving home for the rest of his life.
We didn’t get a lot of back-story on Fred – We were told that he may have been abused, but at the very least was seriously ignored (like just left in his crate) for a long time. He definitely liked women more than men (I was the only one that could pick him up) so I’m guessing a man wasn’t so nice to him. The Rescue people had also told me that “It was easier for his owners to give Fred away than to teach the kids how to treat him” which made me believe that he had bitten a child.
Since we don’t have kids we thought he’d like it here just fine. And he did. Once he got over just staring at me for the first few days, he was my little buddy. He followed me everywhere – When I got out of the shower, there was Fred. When I went to the other bathroom to dry my hair, he’d lie right outside of the door until I was done. He followed me around the house constantly, and was always waiting in the front window for me whenever I went out.
We found out that Fred’s kidneys were failing after Thanksgiving, and even though he had been going to the vet constantly, I had no idea that the end would come so quickly. If someone had told me on Christmas Day that he would be gone on by the first of the year, I would have told them that they were crazy.
On New Years Day we knew that he was suffering and took him to the emergency vet to be euthanized. Before we took “the ride” I had a talk with him – I told him that I was sorry if his former family had told him that he was bad, because he was a great dog. I told him that their loss was our unbelievable gain. I thanked him for being so wonderful and told him how much I would miss him.
It took me over a week before I was able to email Jennifer, who had been fostering him for months and brought him (all the way from Tennessee!) to live with us. I knew that she loved him just as much as I did, and I knew my email would break her heart. But I also knew that she had a right to know, and would want to know. After a few days I received her reply. It was so beautiful that I have to share it:
I’m sorry it took a couple of days to reply. I just had a little trouble absorbing it all. I did love Fred so much and thought of him all the time, how much I missed having him around. I’m so very sorry for your loss. I am saddened that Fred didn’t get to spend more time with you guys because he’s so lucky to have finally ended up in a great place, but at least he spent his last days with people who truly loved him. I know his days with you were the happiest days of his entire life. I so wish you’d gotten him earlier too, but sometimes things fall into place and if he’d come into rescue sooner, he might never have ended up with you.
Thank you so much for loving Fred, and taking a chance on a little old man. It was truly an unselfish act that very few people would have taken on Fred. Once you got past his trust issues, he was truly a wonderful dog, full of love and very sweet. Not everyone could see that about Fred. I’m truly sorry Fred didn’t last longer for you, because it’s so hard to lose someone, especially when your time together is brief. But I hope you know that because of you, Fred left life with everything a dog could ever ask for, a family that loved him, and that’s the best thing. It’s so hard to lose a pet when you love them so much, but it’s worth dealing with the loss because of everything they bring into our lives.
Thank you for loving Fred, and for giving him a loving home to spend his last days.
So even though losing Fred was beyond heartbreaking for me, I’ll never be sorry that we adopted him. He was a GREAT dog that just needed to be in a different family. I’ll always be thankful that I had him in my life, even if it was only for a short time.
Why not open your home and heart up to a senior pet? I will definitely do it again.
I know that Fred would approve.
I was powerless against this beautiful face.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you so, so much for sharing Fred’s story for Blog the Change. Jennifer’s email brought tears to my eyes! I agree so wholeheartedly with you: While it’s so sad to lose a loved one, these guys deserve to live out their homes spoiled, happy, and cozy with a loving family!
Thank you for adopting a senior dog, I am a volunteer for St. Louis Senior Dog Project and I always love hearing about senior dog stories, and I am so happy you chose to adopt Fred and give him a happy last year of life
. I am stopping by here because of the Blog Hop, hopefully you can check us out and follow us on twitter @STLSeniorDog
What a sweet story – thanks for sharing it.
What an inspirational story! Fred was so lucky to have you in his life.
For a while I was considering adopting an 11 year old dachshund mix named Coffee from my local shelter. I had met her during an event the shelter held and fell head over heels for her sweet, quiet nature and sleepy eyes. After talking to a few people about it they all pretty much said “why spend the money on a dog that will pass away in a few years?” I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that Fred spent the last year of his life being loved. It doesn’t matter how long a dog is in your life, all that matters is that you’re there and showering them with love.
I decided against adopting Coffee as finances became tight, but she has found a home and I am very happy she has. I definitely have “adopting a senior dog” on my life list.
Thank you for sharing Fred’s story. I’ve also adopted an older dog and hope we will have many years together. But I know that however long we do have, the time will be full of love, fun, … and treats!
Spending a great deal of time reading all the terrific Blog the Change posts, I have to admit, this one had me in tears. These are not tears of pity or sympathy but of gratitude. Fred knew he was loved in the end and his life was validated in those treasured moments – brief but beautiful. Thank you for sharing your love with him, your story here and for Blogging the Change.
Sincerely,
Kim (and Amy by proxy)