When I first saw the email with animals up for adoption last September, I saw Mindy’s photo and read her sad story about how her previous owners had left her at the vet to be put to sleep. She is 11 years old and her only health problem is cataracts and some hearing loss. I looked at Eddie, my six year old Chihuahua and asked him, “So Eddie, what do you think? Should we adopt her?” Eddie had just lost his Chihuahua sister, Ginger, who was 15. She passed away in August with heart problems. Eddie responded with “Sorry, Mommie… .too soon, too soon….we need time to recover.” I again saw Mindy on the site two months later. I asked Eddie again. “Too soon, Mommie, too soon.” When I saw Mindy once again, still not adopted, in January, Eddie and I both decided it was time to check out little Mindy, so we called and made an appointment to go meet her.

It was love at first sight! When we brought Mindy home with us that day, I knew she would be making her permanent home with us. She was very shy at first, but after a week, her tail was wagging and lifted high! At the dog park, she goes up to everyone as if to say, “Hi, I’m Mindy. This is my new Mom and brother, and I am SO happy.” She never barks, which makes me believe that her previous owners may have abused her whenever she barked. Her favorite thing is large bones. She will carry them all over the house in her mouth, strutting proudly! Her way of showing affection, I have learned, is by snuggling up and pushing her nose hard against me. She does this every night before she settles down to sleep right next to me with her head on my other pillow. I feel as if she is trying to tell me thanks for considering an older girl like me as a family member.

Eddie loves his new big sis! He protects her when we walk from other dogs and has even started grooming her! I’ve even caught them snuggled up in the same doggie bed! This is a true success story about how a senior dog can add happiness, just as much as a puppy. More thoughts should be given to adopting a senior pet and I am thrilled that I can give happiness to Mindy’s remaining years, as she has so much love and happiness left!

Rhonda Lindquist