No "Right Time" to Fall in Love
As a BARCS employee, I’ve learned that there’s no “right time” to fall in love with an animal. Nine months after having my daughter, I was finally starting to feel like my house wasn’t in total chaos anymore. My husband and I were lucky to already have a senior dog and two cats in our townhome. All was well.
And then I saw Connie’s picture online. She was exactly our type: a long-haired, shortstack dog with a gorgeous smile and a silly, hairless tail. I told myself we were in no place to welcome a new dog into our home. Despite myself, I looked her up in the BARCS animal database, curious what her story was. When I learned she was 14 and sick, I audibly said, “Oh no.”
My husband and I love senior animals. Don’t get me wrong, puppies and young dogs are super cute, but we have a fondness for silver faces and tired eyes. We’ve always thought of our home as a safe place for wayward animals, and Connie was the perfect candidate.
So I asked my husband, and we agreed: let’s bring Connie home for foster care and see how she fits in. If she gets adopted, fabulous! If not, maybe it was a sign.
I checked everyday to see if Connie was getting any adoption interest, but she wasn’t. I truly didn't understand. How could no one want this sweet old lady?
But the answer was right in front of me: I did. I wanted Connie. And she wanted me.
In the meantime, the BARCS veterinary team was working to see what medical issues crept beneath her majestic coat of fur. It took several appointments and a battery of tests, but we finally had our answer: Connie had Cushing’s disease and a mass near the base of her heart. Treatment at her age is risky, especially for Cushing’s, so the BARCS veterinary team agreed it would be best for Connie to provide comfort care.
My husband and I didn’t hesitate: the same day we received the diagnosis, we made Connie an official member of our family.
Connie has fit right into our home. You’d think being 14 would mean she wants nothing but naps, but she’s still a puppy at heart. She begs for pets, going so far as to lick our legs or paw at us for attention, her hairless tail wagging happily. She gets into everything (trash is favorite forbidden snack) and she’s always underfoot, ready and waiting to sneak a taste of whatever we’re cooking. She loves to play fetch, her arthritic hips helping her chase the tennis ball. And she’s so, so sweet and gentle with our daughter.
Whether she has one month or one year left, my family is committed to giving her all the love and snuggles she needs.
Sincerely,
Michelle and Connie
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