This post is my entry into the BlogPaws Blog Carnival Contest sponsored by BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
Today is a day that the world takes pause to remember the events of September, 11 2001. While this day will always be remembered by the world, it’s the events on this day one year later that I now take pause to remember. This time though, it is to remember one of the happiest days of my life. It’s the day that Duke became a member of my family.
I wanted a Collie all of my life. Lassie is my hero, and Collies are the most beautiful dogs I’ve ever seen. It was never meant to be as I was growing up, as we just didn’t have the space a big dog like that needed. So, after getting my own home, the first thing on the agenda was to add a Collie to the household.
I scoured the internet and found a Collie rescue group (Tri-State Collie Rescue) a few hours away from me. I fell in love with several dogs on their website. I filled out their application, was approved to adopt, and was on my way to visit with a few of those dogs.
- Duke’s First Day Home – September 11, 2002
When I got there, the first dog I spotted was one that was sleeping in a crate near the entrance. When he realized I was there, he stood up and gave me a goofy looking grin and had a sparkle in his eyes. They called him Connor and he wasn’t on their website yet. He had just been neutered and was recovering from the surgery. At first glance he looked like a smooth coated Collie as his hair was really short. The short hair only added to his goofiness. We left the building to go outside and visit with the dogs I was there to see… Connor wasn’t one of them.
I visited with at least three dogs, and they were all great dogs. I could have been perfectly happy with any of them, but I just couldn’t shake that goofy looking dog out of my head. I asked about Connor’s story. They told me that he was around 2 years old, and was dumped off of a truck along the side of the road. A concerned citizen was able to get him into their car and took him to a local shelter.
Tri-State in turn rescued him from the shelter to give him a chance at a new life. He had short hair for a reason, and it wasn’t because he was a smooth coated Collie. It turns out that he had been severely matted. They had to shave all of that beautiful fur off in order to make him comfortable. I asked if I could visit with him.
They brought him out into the yard, and it turns out his goofy grin matched his goofy personality. He loved being in the yard, and acted like such a clown. We had a blast. There was an instant connection. I knew he was the one that was going home with me. So it is on this day, nine years ago, that Duke, formerly Connor, entered my life.
- Duke all rigged up and ready to go!
He’s now eleven years old, and he’s slowing down. He has a heart murmur, an enlarged liver and his back legs aren’t working so well anymore. I had to take him to an emergency room about a week ago, as he had fallen and I couldn’t get him to stand back up. He’s doing better now, but is still pretty wobbly on his feet. I’ve got him rigged with harnesses that help me get him up and moving around.
He has been a blessing in my life and I’ve cherished every moment so far. I hope there are many more cherished moments to come, but I fear he may not make it to his next birthday. So today, September 11, 2011, I celebrate his life, and I count my blessings. Not just for him, but for all of the family, friends and fur critters in my life. Happy Birthday Dukie, my big goofer man!
1 comment
Fantastic article. I’m struggling with a few these difficulties.