In Memory Of
Ian
About My Dog
Ian was an old toothless rescue golden retriever who came with a very large tumor. He was the dog love of my life, even though, in years, he wasn't with us long.
He was saved by a shelter worker who noticed that, despite his infirmities, his tail never stopped wagging. I had agreed to foster him during his recovery from surgery, but I knew from the moment I met him he was special and wouldn't be going anywhere.
On some level, he has always been my dog despite the fact that he spent twelve years of his life somewhere else.
What I'd Like to Say To (or About) My Dog
It's hard to believe that, in years, he was only with us for a short time. It really does feel like he was with us forever and he will be forever in my heart. The time we had was happy - we went on lots of long walks, trips to the beach, and to the park.
Despite his age, and what would be ultimately a losing battle with cancer, he happily played with our little dogs and kept them all behaving! Ian was always by my side and he couldn't walk out a door without turning his head to make sure I was following him. Of course, I always did.
Ian touched a lot of lives and became a poster boy for senior dog rescue. Even though losing him broke my heart, his story was also a story of love and of hope and of the good that the tireless, unpaid heroes that volunteer in dog rescue, along with vets and shelter workers, and other unsung heroes do, day in and day, out with a never ending stream of dogs that someone has decided they can't keep, don't want, have to get rid of and typically need that to happen right now.
As the starfish story goes, it does make a difference to the life that was saved, and to those whose lives were graced by their presence.
To this day, and always, I still miss him and he will always have a big piece of my heart.
Lessons Learned
- Old dogs are wonderful dogs
- If you're going to adopt, remember that older dogs are often housebroken, better mannered, and more low-key than puppies
- Rescue organizations and shelters are excellent places to look for a dog
- Sometimes, when you think you are doing a good deed, you are the one getting the gift
- You cannot measure love in years
