Harry & Sam

Harry and Sam never met, but they have a lot in common. Harry was found wandering the streets of Charlottesville several years ago. He was old, gray, and walked with a limp, and he looked like hell. He had sarcoptic mange (scabies), and he had no hair on much of his body. He was fortunate to have been wondering on Preston Avenue, I guess, and the kind folks at Old Dominion Animal Hospital took him in. They treated him for everything, and they fell in love with him. He was a sweet old guy. They called me and conned me into taking him, although I knew his adoption prospects were slim, at best.

He grew back most of his hair, but the tip of his tail remained bare and he would occasionally wag it too hard against something and start it bleeding. He was still old, very gray, and very gimpy, although he could outrun me even with that bad leg and did so on numerous occasions.

I would take him to adoption events with both Animal Connections and Virginia German Shepherd Rescue. Everyone loved him and he worked the crowd well. He brought in a lot of donations but no one wanted to adopt him, until one year at the Vegetarian Festival in Charlottesville. Harry found a home, making me believe that it is possible for virtually any dog if one waits long enough. And it was a great home--good, caring people, as one would expect of anyone who took in a senior dog.

They had Harry for a few short years, but Harry died, as old dogs do. Harry's last years were surely some of his best, however, and he got the best of care and all the love he could ask for.

This morning I took Sam to that same home. He's also old, gray, and somewhat gimpy. Sam is in better shape than Harry was in the beginning, but his adoption prospects are similarly slim. There are just not a lot of folks willing and able to take in and deal with an 8 year old dog. Everyone says something to effect of "I couldn't bear to lose them so soon." I understand the sentiment, even with the uncertainties of life, one thing that you can generally assume is that a young dog will be around longer than an old dog.

So it takes someone very special to seek out and take in a senior dog, knowing that they may not have them long, and knowing that they will have senior dog medical issues and expenses to deal with right from the beginning.

Now, I don't know yet if Sam will work out in that particular home. They are giving it a try today to see how he fits in with their kids, other dogs, and cats. But they will give it a fair shot, and they won't turn him down because of his age. He's actually a very nice guy. Whoever adopts him will be lucky to have him for however long it lasts.


(p.s. I just had a phone call. Sam is doing well, fitting in, and acting as if he's always lived there. He's spending the night there, and probably many more to come.)