09/01/2023
We had to say goodbye this morning to our sweet Larry Bear. We rescued him a year ago as a senior dog through Neshama Animal Rescue. A few months ago we had a large tumor removed from his neck, a few weeks ago another showed up, bigger than the prior one. The vet confirmed he had cancer but for a few more days he acted like his normal self and he gave us that special time to love on him a little more.
When rescuing senior dogs we know the end will come sooner than if they were pups but facing the end is not to be feared rather it’s the journey that is so fulfilling, memorable and impactful that makes it all so worthwhile. We would not trade this past year with Larry Bear for anything because we knew is life before the shelter was not a good one and then there was the shelter, Larry was going to die there because there are so many dogs to manage and he was old and his hips were bad. Over the past year Larry radiated his simple happiness on all of us. He loved the yard, his short hobblie walks, his ears scratched and he just wanted to be were we were.
Our story is not unique and for those who have rescued an animal they know what are happiness has been. In part I’m sharing our story to share the message that shelter dogs need homes and your decision to adopt a shelter dog will be life saving. Please don’t support puppy mills and back yard breeders. Rescue a furry family member and save an animal from death and discover the best, most loyal and devoted friend you might ever know.
We are so appreciative of Neshama, Pawfect Match and other rescues as well as the shelter workers and animal control officers who go out of there way to save these abandoned and neglected animals, but these efforts can only go so far because without fosters or those who adopt there is no way to save the many dogs that are euthanized every day. If a thousand people stepped up to rescue a dog that would be a thousand saved but you can make a difference, just save one furry family member. If you can’t adopt you can donate, volunteer or simply share this post. Thank you for sharing the memory of Larry Bear with us.