It broke my heart to hear that senior dogs are the least popular age group to adopt.
People generally prefer puppies or young dogs. You can shape them the way you want. It is rare that we decide to give an older dog a second chance.
Little do they know that adopting a senior dog means investing in their golden years. Such dogs are given a second chance, albeit a brief one, to live a fulfilling life.
The hero dog in this story, Rainbow Henry, came across the Rainbow Bridge not only because of his condition, but also because of his dedication to the shelter. His former family no longer wanted him and could not cope with his diagnosis.
They did the cruelest things to the family dog. But luckily, Henry’s rescuers came quickly and saved him the life he always deserved.
Good luck, bless old Henry.
Photo of our oldest dog, Henry
When Zack Skow, founder of Marley’s Mutts, a nonprofit rescue organization in California, heard about Henry, he knew he had to adopt him. As a rescuer who loves big dogs and has dozens of successful children, Zach reached out and took Henry home. When no one wanted him, Jack came and took Henry’s legs in his hands. 16-year-old Henry has been through a lot. As I said before, his former owners gave him to the shelter because he was old and sick. In addition to being deaf and partially blind, Henry was diagnosed with cancer throughout his body.
When Jack first met Henry, he thought his poor old friend had weeks, if not days, to live. Fortunately, Henry proved everyone wrong.
He removed the cancer cells and felt much better. Henry grew up under Zach’s tutelage. He turned into a happy puppy with no signs of age other than his gray hair. Henry was finally enjoying life. Old age, or as I like to call it, old age, is a very difficult time for any dog. These dogs deserve all the love, care and extra time we have for them.
Because, one day… we’ll wake up and find out that their time is up.
Henry’s Final Destination
Zach wasn’t the only good person who wanted to help Henry. He knew he had to find him a loving furever home – a family that would devote their entire time to Henry’s final days.
Help came in the form of Caro Aguilar’s family. They took Henry in and showered him with love, making his final days a whole lot better.Henry was doing great. His tests came back without any issues. He was just like any other senior pooch. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into a year. For more than a year, Henry was a part of the Aguilar family. He brought in joy and sunshine, as well as unconditional love that no one dreamed could be possible. Sadly, Henry crossed the rainbow bridge on June 1st, 2022, leaving an eternal void behind him that no one will ever fill. He broke his family’s heart, even though they knew he wouldn’t fight against time.
Henry’s old heart couldn’t take it anymore. Now, he runs through Heavenly pastures, looking down on his rescuers, Zack and the Aguilars – a handful of kind people who made his last golden year worth living.
