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"Walking Him Home"
(A Rescue Story)
It's always gratifying to see an older Westie placed in a good home, but this story shows how the placement can be equally satisfying to the new Adopter! This was the case with Nan and Calvin.
I was contacted by the Irving AC about a Westie that had been surrendered. He was 14 yrs. old, probably deaf, had cataracts, and needed rescue/adoption now.
I already had another
old Westie, "Altus", in the program, who had been picked up a week
earlier, had medical problems/expenses and I wasn't sure I could place him,
I decided to contact 17 people on my list that might consider an older Westie.
Several responded, but only one, by the name of Nan, said "Yes, I would be
willing to meet him and to see if we're a match…. I hope we can help each
other!" Next thing I heard was that she had picked Calvin up and headed for
the Vet.
I wrote Nan, "I am overjoyed that this worked out, and that you adopted this Westie!" Her reply was poignant, "I'm happy too. I think what I'm doing is called 'walking him home' so to speak. I read a book once that referred to helping a person who is elderly and ill have a dignified last year as 'walking them home'. Anyway, I'm glad to help in this way. The Vet says he is very healthy in terms of his organs, so she thinks he has at least a year or two…..Thanks for your note, and for hooking me up with little Calvin!"
"Walking him home,"………what a beautiful and meaningful phrase.
Nan and I stayed in contact. She wrote, "I'm so glad to hear that Altus is doing well. I hope that you enjoy him as much as I'm enjoying my time with Calvin. He has just blossomed. I have to bathe him 2x a week with medicated shampoo, and he really enjoys his baths and being groomed/blown dry. His fur is now fluffy, soft and white, and he smells great. I'm afraid that over the years I've learned how to pamper a dog. So, as much as I can, I try to make his life a bit pampered. For example, he also loves these bacon flavored sticks, which he gets after he allows me to put in his eye drops & eardrops, and after he has finished his breakfast or dinner. When he has taken care of things outside, he gets two miniature milk bones. At night he loves to snuggle under the covers and really prefers to "sleep in" under this little afghan he has adopted as his. He also enjoys taking walks, even when it's raining and cold. We are now up to 6 blocks! He sees pretty well, and hears (he is hard of hearing, but he can hear). He is a deep sleeper, and sometimes I have to awaken him. I can tell his life was not safe, because he has had nightmares, and if he's awakened abruptly, he does so with a start and then automatically cringes. This has been very rewarding for me. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to help such a dear little gentlemen."
A
month later Nan wrote, "…..He and I are doing extremely well. I know that
I'm really happy with him, and now that he wags his tail quite a bit, I know he
feels happy and secure with me. What's amazing is that he has totally bloomed as
a dog. He is alert, his ears pricked, and he's even bouncy! Can you believe it?
We now routinely take 20 minute walks in the morning and evening. I'm sorry to
hear that Altus is having health problems. I don't think Calvin hears very well,
but his ear infections are now totally gone and his eyesight is good. His eyes
are dark and sparkle. He can still hop up on couches and chairs. He's also
EXTREMELY smart."
The Rest of the Story.....
Nan left Dallas in the fall of 2003. She wrote me in 2004, saying "Calvin and I spent last Fall at a friend's horse farm in West Virginia (deaf westies and country horses are not a good mix! I kept him well away from the horses since they don't like dogs, given the dangers they endure from foxes and coyotes). Last November, while I was visiting my 87-year-old father in Pittsburgh, PA, he asked me to help him get his health & finances stabilized, and to sell his house so he could move to a senior community. This has been a lot of work and challenging for various reasons, and Calvin and I have been living at my cousin's house in Pittsburgh, PA since then. My Native Texan Westie has been a loyal and beloved companion during these past challenging months. His health continues to be good, and everywhere he goes people make a fuss over him and tell me what a cute dog he is. You see, Calvin LOVES to drive in the car, so I take him with me as much as possible. I have been visiting my father and another friend who is 87 at their senior communities 2-3 times a week each week since we arrived in Pgh. The other residents make such a fuss over Calvin, and he LOVES the attention. In short, Calvin has been a little angel, both to me and to others. He has made a really difficult time in my life SO MUCH BETTER than it would have been otherwise!
I just wanted to let you know that Calvin continues to do well and has adapted well to Pennsylvania. According to his records at Park Cities Animal Hospital in Dallas, he turned 15 on June 1st. Thanks, once again, for your work in placing Westies who need new homes. I have to say that Calvin has been a very precious and wonderful addition to my life.....at a time when I have really appreciated his loving company."
She wrote again in
Decemeber, 2005, saying: "I wanted to let you know that Calvin has been my
wonderful little companion now for almost 3 years. As you may recall, I adopted
him when he was 14, and he's been a wonderful gift to me as I have made many
transitions in my life. I am now pursuing my M.S.W. at the University of
Pittsburgh, and a fellow student who commutes with me and who fell in love with
Calvin wanted to see his history of adoption. So, I thought I'd update you. His
health is not quite as vibrant now, as he was diagnosed with congestive heart
failure this past June, and is on enalapril, plus he has petit mal seizures, but
he's still enjoying rides in the car, walks in the snow, his favorite food
(Merrick's Turduckin) and a good snooze on a soft bed. Thanks again for your
help in bringing him into my life!"
All good things must come to an end, and I received this E-mail in May, 2006. " I had to put Calvin to sleep the day before yesterday. I had him for over three years, and he would have been 17 on June 1. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure last May and he had been taking enalapril and other medications, but he had started to wheeze and the vet told me there was nothing more we could do to help him. He was a wonderful little guy and I'm so grateful to have had him for as long as I did. One interesting thing is that he absolutely loved the winter here in Pennsylvania and would frolic in the snow -- even when he wasn't feeling well. I thought you might want to give club members an update. Attached are some pictures of him enjoying life in Pennsylvania."
We thank Nan for the loving care she gave to Calvin, and for her letters which brought her experience to life for us. She did, indeed, do a wonderful job of "Walking Him Home".
Submitted by Marv Katz
Ed. Note: Thank you for letting us quote your story, Nan.