No matter how well you plan and prepare, there are events like this that will melt your heart!
Among the many dogs I have met over the years, Raki’s story will always hold a special place in my heart.
He was just one of many seniors trying to say goodbye to the world, but Beth and Michael Clark came to the shelter’s door and gave him the experience of a lifetime in the fall of his life.
Make Rocky’s Christmas 2015 one to remember
This Maryland couple has always had a special place in their hearts for shelter dogs. During the winter, I volunteer at a local shelter to drop off blankets for our furry four-legged friends to help them get through the season. In the winter of 2015, just before Christmas, they went to the Anne Arundel County Animal Control Center in Millersville, Maryland to do just that, but this is what they saw – Rocky!
He was 17 years old, gray and thin, but Beth couldn’t bear the thought of keeping Rocky in a cage. She told her husband she wanted to take him home and he agreed. That’s right – Rocky has a new home!
Enjoy the sun and sleep well
Despite his age, Rocky thrived in his new home. He was not a shadow of his former self, but a completely new dog. It was the same dog that Beth and Michael had seen at the shelter. He was a big love bug, always ready to cuddle with his paws or be by your side.
Over time, he became weaker and his legs could not support him. His legs helped him up the stairs, and instead of walking, he decided to sit in the yard with his owner and sunbathe!
You may not remember me, Hazel, but I kissed you first.
In 2016, Beth found out she was expecting a baby and couldn’t be happier! At first Rocky didn’t notice a thing, but he started to soften during the pregnancy and adapted to everything baby related just fine!
However, in the seventh month of pregnancy, Rocky’s condition took a turn for the worse. He started having seizure-like symptoms and felt very ill. The Clark family soon learned that he had cancer and didn’t have much time left.
The vet wanted to hospitalize him, but the Clarks refused to put him back in his cage. They decided to stay together, hoping that Rocky would live long enough to meet his sister.
And amazingly, he did!
When they got back from the hospital, Rocky gently nudged his sister, whom he called Hazel, and laid his head next to her. Unfortunately, his condition took a turn for the worse that evening and Beth and Michael knew they had to put him down. Raki seemed to have done his best to stay long enough to meet his sister, and now he can cross the rainbow bridge in peace.
After Rocky died, our friends at Anne Arundel County Animal Care and Control wrote an emotional Facebook post that brought thousands to tears.
Rest in peace, Loki. You will always be remembered as Hazel’s first brother!
