Love Never Grows Old

I often hear the expression “we all think we have the best dog, and none of us are wrong”.  Yet, I’ve always been absolutely positive that I loved my Fizzle Bear the MOST.

I adopted Fizzle during a time I didn’t even want to get out of bed.  He was 3 years old, with black and tan fur, no identifiable breed, yet it felt like he saved me.  This handsome boy got me out into the fresh air regularly, radiated pure joy when I came home from a stressful day and was the best listener in the world.  At times I felt as though he could read my mind & we had our own special language between us.

After brightening my life every single day, Fizzle was diagnosed with a heart murmur at 10 years old.  Two years of cardiologist visits & daily medications, he never lost his happy spirit.  But one day, his heart just couldn’t take it anymore.  It sounds crazy, but I would have traded years off my own life for even one more day with him.  But I had to let him go.

I went through all the emotions anyone that has lost a pet knows well: anger that I didn’t have him with me longer, heartbreak each time I walked into our quiet home, denial that I’d ever love a pet again.  But since I’ve been heavily involved in animal welfare for many years, I chose to walk dogs at animal control as a distraction for my intensely aching heart.

And one month to the day that I lost Fizzle, I met Walter.

In a small steel cage, sat this white faced, senior dog, not making a sound.  He peered at me with such sad eyes.  All around him, young puppies were yipping & bouncing around.  But Walter just sat there quietly, almost expecting me to walk by him.  Instead, I took him out of the cage.  He was missing hair on his back end, with his tail completely bare.  He had no front teeth at all, other than his canines.  His medical records said he had multiple bb’s lodged throughout his body and he was heartworm positive.

Maybe because Walter looked as rough on the outside as I felt on the inside, I decided to take him home.  Before we even pulled out of the parking lot, he was snoring that deep sleep of finally feeling safe.  At first, I didn’t want him using any of Fizzle’s things.  I’d almost panic if he touched them.  But slowly, it gave me joy to have a part of Fizzle helping Water.

Most times when someone adopts a senior pet, they are viewed as a hero.  Bringing a senior dog home avoids them having the scary shelter as their last memory.  You are allowing them to be surrounded by love and comfort in their golden years.

But surprisingly, Walter breathed new life into me.  He greets each day as the best day of his life.  He lights up when meeting new people & other dogs and bounces around in happiness to go everywhere with me.  And the shine in his eyes draws people to him no matter where we are.

As more & more people fall in love with his sweet white face, Walter is changing perspectives on adopting senior pets.  I feel confident many more old dogs will be adopted in the future, thanks to Walter.  What a wonderful honor to my Fizzle.

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About The Village Vets

The Village Vets is a network of animal hospitals based in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding area. We offer honest, excellent service to our clients in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. To learn more about our locations and how we can better serve you and your pet, click the button below.

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Recent Posts

dog-covered-in-blanket-with-coffee-mug-between-front-paws

Can Dogs Get Colds?

cat-wrapped-in-blanket-laying-on-couch-surrounded-by-medicine

Is it Normal for My Cat to Keep Sneezing?

vet-listening-to-dog-with-stethoscope-at-clinic

Dog Coughing: Causes, How To Help Your Pet and When to Call the Vet

About The Village Vets

The Village Vets is a network of animal hospitals based in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding area. We offer honest, excellent service to our clients in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. To learn more about our locations and how we can better serve you and your pet, click the button below.