What a day! Working with the public is mentally and physically taxing! Exhausted. Energy depleted. Need. To. Open. Door. AAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!!! Managing to turn the key in the lock; I walk heavily through the front door and wearily drop my backpack on the floor. I am unconcerned where it lands. I don’t care that it landed right in front of the door. All I want is to kick off my shoes, get into my pajamas, cover my head with my pillow, and sob. I search for the light switch and turn on the kitchen light.
Sluggishly, I kick the backpack out of the way and then I see. Watching me are three pairs of brown eyes. They stare at me with loving affection. Three toothy grins meet my glazed gaze. I am being stared at in a flirty and mischievous kind of way. As if to say, “So, whatcha been up to?” “Glad to see ya!” “We feel your pain.” “NOW, let us outta here!” Suddenly, I forget all the heaviness, all the angst, all the upset. How can I remember any of these things when I am greeted with so much devotion and unconditional love?
My dogs greet me like this every single time I walk through the door. I am greeted like this every time I walk into a room. Privacy? Well, there really isn’t any with my three kids: Topanga, Miekko, and Peanut. When I need to do personal things I am adoringly followed. It is hard to believe that each of them were given up, not wanted, and basically thrown away.
Topanga is my most well-adjusted child. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact she was rescued as a young puppy and didn’t experience a lot of trauma. Or, it could be, that she is a female. Either way, my dear, sweet, sixteen-year-old lady is much loved and cherished by me. Now, my other two children, Miekko and Peanut, are equally loved and cherished; however, these two are full of whiskered mischief and mayhem. It may be, because of their traumatic pasts or that they are males wired for mischief and mayhem. Either way, they are a devilish doggy duo made in a shaggy Shangri La. It is a good thing, too.
Miekko and Topanga have lived together for more than eleven years and remind me of an old married couple. They are extremely close and do most things together. When Miekko joined our family he had experienced a lot of trauma. The known facts of Miekko’s past are sickening. Topanga was not liking having a younger brother in her home. She loved being the only child. In time though, both of them adjusted to each other and are now inseparable.
I love watching them. They show more love and respect to each other than many humans. But, watching them breaks my heart, too. I know at 16 Topanga’s time here is dwindling. I also know Miekko’s heart will be broken when he loses his best friend and wife. After all they have been married for over eleven years. Being aware of Miekko’s pain put me on a quest! I needed to find the perfect addition to our loving family nucleus.
Starting this search was easy. All of my animals have been adopted. The challenging aspect was finding a match for my two alphas and one that would tolerate Topanga’s aged ways and be gentle with her elderly body. I wanted to adopt a dog.
I had been searching and thought I found the perfect fit, but once arriving at the shelter I found out the dog I wanted to rescue would not work within our family dynamics. My spirit was crushed. Three of the shelter’s animal handlers suggested a 40 pound beagle. Between sobs I explained that wanted a larger dog and wasn’t looking for a smaller one. I love large dogs and I came to meet a two-year-old pitt bull terrier. Meeting a beagle was not the plan and it was totally unexpected.
One of the handlers said, “You are here now.” “It wouldn’t hurt for you to meet him.” She looked me square in the eyes and nodded her head in Miekko’s direction and asked, “Besides, who is this friend for: You or Miekko?” Anna, my young travelling companion, became very excited and begged to meet him. She loves beagles and also had one. He had recently passed so meeting this dog was something special for her.
I said, "Okay. We will meet him." It seemed an eternity before the door opened and out stepped a small, multi-colored, floppy-eared, short-legged dog. My heart sank when I looked at him. He had tears running from his big, brown, hamburger eyes. His face was long. His tail was tucked between his legs. And, the first thing he did once stepping through the door was to sprawl his legs seemingly in an attempt to glue him-self to the floor. Anna began bouncing up and down, “Oh, Ms. Paula, isn’t he cute!” Can I let Miekko go to him?" The question was pointless. Before the question was even completed Miekko had lumbered off his chair and was nose-to-nose with this beagle. Miekko then proceeded to lick the tears from his eyes. It was an emotional experience watching the interaction between these two brought tears to my eyes. My misconceived opinions were totally wrong. Miekko chose his new friend! Miekko said, “This is my new companion!
Anna was in an a jubilated frenzy. “Look Ms. Paula! They like each other! They really, really like each other! Oh, Ms. Paula he looks just like my Peanut!” Turning to the handler holding the beagle’s leash she asked, “What’s his name?” Anna was answered, “Peanut.” I don’t believe in co-incidences, I do, however, believe in Divine Intervention. I requested to see how Miekko and Peanut interacted with each in a freer area. Needless to say, I went home that day with an eight-year-old, hamburger-eyed, floppy-eared, multi-colored, short-legged, forty-pound beagle named Peanut.
There are some special considerations when adopting an older dog, but when adopting any animal there should be considerations. Peanut is the perfect addition and has become an important and vital part of our family. He is house-broken. He knows most common commands. But, the most important thing is what he has introduced to our home. There are numerous differences between a younger and an older dog. Some of them are quite obvious, but what I didn’t expect are the innate abilities that an older dog gains through life experiences. And that adage, “You can’t teach an old dog, new tricks!” is a complete false-hood. An old dog can be taught new tricks.
Peanut seems to be extremely intuitive and instinctively knowing. He possesses an uncanny sixth sense. Personally, I don’t think these abilities can be taught. From the moment Peanut placed his paw in his new fur-ever home, he knew his place in the pack. He arrived here having never met Topanga. Being the Grand Dame of the domain, she is naturally snarky. She exercised her authority every way she could from chasing Peanut away from his food and water to refusing to let him be next to me. Within one month Peanut and Topanga had become close friends. He is very sensitive to Topanga’s needs and takes it all in stride without retaliation.
For me, adopting an older dog was the perfect decision. Peanut is the perfect companion for Miekko. He is a considerate companion for Topanga. I never intended to adopt an older dog, but I am over-joyed that I adopted Peanut. Peanut has taught me so much about unconditional love and I have been exceedingly blessed. Of all the lessons learned, I think the deepest one is that animals are not disposable. And, older dogs shouldn’t live their last days unwanted in a kennel. If anyone has the chance to adopt an older dog please do it!
Written by Paula Masci, you may find her on Twitter @TangerineSkies2