Four years ago I met Tucker at our local Shelter.....totally by "accident". I was dropping off some food and kitty litter and decided to walk the dog kennel aisle. (At this point I was only donating stuff....Two years later we were full-fledged volunteers.)
As I walked the aisle, there was this massive beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog (mix) up against the kennel gate.....He didn't bark. He just smiled at me. I went home and told Larry (the hubby) about this great dog. No one wanted him because he was five years old and his breed usually only lasts to age seven. I told Larry that I thought I'd pick up our daughter from school and take her up to see him........and if they get along that perhaps .........? (I got very little comment from the husband.)
So, I picked Brianna up after school and told her my plan......Just then, my cell phone rang. It was Larry. He asked me if I was still at the school to stay put.
Five minutes later, Larry drove into the school parking lot with a grinning TUCKER sitting in the front seat of the pickup truck.
Today, Tucker is failing........He's passed his estimated life span by 2 years and is now rapidly going down hill. His appetite is gone and so is his energy. The vet ran all sorts of tests and didn't find anything specific, except for an elevated white blood cell count.
Tucker came to us grieving for his previous owner who had died of cancer.......We gave him some fun last years of romping on our farm and I know he grew to love us.........but now he just is letting go. He's starving himself.
It's very hard not to be selfish........even though I know and feel Tucker's "Lady" is waiting.
PS: Just want to add.....Even though Tucker was "older" when we got him and OTHER people were afraid to adopt him -- I AM GLAD WE ADDED HIM TO OUR FAMILY. ALL FOUR YEARS WERE WONDERFUL AND WORTH IT. I wish more people would take the chance for LOVE.
God speed, Tucker......... We will always love you........
As I walked the aisle, there was this massive beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog (mix) up against the kennel gate.....He didn't bark. He just smiled at me. I went home and told Larry (the hubby) about this great dog. No one wanted him because he was five years old and his breed usually only lasts to age seven. I told Larry that I thought I'd pick up our daughter from school and take her up to see him........and if they get along that perhaps .........? (I got very little comment from the husband.)
So, I picked Brianna up after school and told her my plan......Just then, my cell phone rang. It was Larry. He asked me if I was still at the school to stay put.
Five minutes later, Larry drove into the school parking lot with a grinning TUCKER sitting in the front seat of the pickup truck.
Today, Tucker is failing........He's passed his estimated life span by 2 years and is now rapidly going down hill. His appetite is gone and so is his energy. The vet ran all sorts of tests and didn't find anything specific, except for an elevated white blood cell count.
Tucker came to us grieving for his previous owner who had died of cancer.......We gave him some fun last years of romping on our farm and I know he grew to love us.........but now he just is letting go. He's starving himself.
It's very hard not to be selfish........even though I know and feel Tucker's "Lady" is waiting.
PS: Just want to add.....Even though Tucker was "older" when we got him and OTHER people were afraid to adopt him -- I AM GLAD WE ADDED HIM TO OUR FAMILY. ALL FOUR YEARS WERE WONDERFUL AND WORTH IT. I wish more people would take the chance for LOVE.
God speed, Tucker......... We will always love you........
