A free pass to heaven
Check out our adoptable dogs at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org. We're the St. Louis Senior Dog Project, a not-for-profit dog rescue organization We rescue and find homes for dogs of all ages, but we specialize in older dogs.
Ellen's Notes:
If I were in charge of who made it into heaven, I'd give a free pass to anyone with the heart and courage to love a dying dog. That goes for dogs that have a terminal diagnosis and those that are just too old to live much longer.
Yesterday I received a note about Charlie, an elderly schnauzer. He was ancient when we took him in, mainly deaf and mainly blind. Sometimes he lost his balance and fell over. One night he slipped out of the gate while we were taking out the trash. We found him across the street with the neighbor's Weimeraner standing guard over him. Charlie found a home with Kim,who just loved schnauzers.
Charlie died a few days ago. "I only had him for 7 1/2 months, but I really loved that old man. I hope I made him as happy as he made me, " wrote Kim.
I also heard from Marion, who took in Buddy, a one-eyed dog who was Mr November in our 2008 Calendar. Buddy died from pneumonia a day or so ago. He was just too old to fight it off. Marion wrote, "He was my little man, my love. i gave him so much love and the best possible life and he gave me so much in return."
Schnickers was an elderly beagle mix whose former owner turned him into a shelter. We found out he was in kidney failure A young couple, Tiffany and Tyson, agreed to be his hospice home. Snickers lasted only a few weeks, but he died with love around him.
I have other stories like that. When Jerusa came by to adopt Rusty, I told her he might live several years or only a few months. He was 14 with a heart arythmia and he'd spend most of his life in a research facility. She said she understood and she bought him an orthopedic bed to make the rest of his life more comfortable.
I'm already told you about the young man who adopted a 14-year-old 3-legged dog. All these people and all the others I've failed to mention deserve a free pass into whatever heaven there might be.
Today I took in a spaniel/sheltie type dog, Sam, who'd been running loose in a nearby neighborhood. We also rescued a poodle mix from the St Louis County Shelter. Sue spent several hours grooming her, and Janet took her home to foster. This girl is about 10 years old and has kennel cough and horrible teeth. We can fix all that and aim her at a better life. We know there are good people out there.
Ellen Ellick
President/Founder
St. Louis Senior Dog Project
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