In honor of Adopt a Senior Dog Month, we wanted to share with you this nothing-short-of-amazing story about an incredible senior dog and the reason why everyone should consider adopting an older pet.
Cassidy is a senior pit bull who had a hard life. Used as a breeding (and possibly even a bait) dog, she was not in good shape when she was finally rescued. In December 2012, she was transported from an over-crowded Californian shelter to Willamette Humane Society (WHS) in Salem, Oregon.
She was a mess, to put it simply.
Martha Russell, a volunteer for WHS, explained her condition:
“She had serious ear infections, a ripped ear flap, and the other ear had a badly damaged ear canal; she had old wounds on her body; she showed signs of arthritis in her hips, and she had worn teeth. It was apparent that she had also given birth to many litters of puppies. The vet guessed her age at about seven. To top it off, Cassidy showed no expression in her face.”
She quickly captured their hearts, however, and became a staff favorite, Russell said.
After over a year of treatment, including surgery to remove her damaged ear canal which left the right side of her face paralyzed – she can’t even blink that eye – she was adopted March 2013.
She was brought back to the shelter November 7, 2014, suffering from the same ear infections and some new health concerns. The staff was worried she would not be lucky enough to find another home.
But fate had plans for Cassidy. Marianne Fox was a new volunteer at WHS who learned about Cassidy through Russell.
“On November 7, 2014 a staff member called me over to the front desk wanting me to meet her ‘favorite dog EVER’ who was being surrendered by her owner. I remember being rushed to get to my shift so I gave the sweet dog some love and left the area. The next day, I went to visit her in the back area of the shelter where dogs are held pending release to the adoption floor. The thing that struck me about her was the lack of expression on her face, though she was incredibly sweet. The next time I went to the shelter, she was on the adoption floor and I went and sat in her kennel. Again, I was struck by her sweetness but lack of facial expression. I thought she seemed stressed and since the shelter was closed the next two days, I decided I would take her home for respite and bring her back on the next open day.”
Fox did bring her back – but just to fill out the adoption forms. And on November 13, 2014, Cassidy became Patience.
“My two small dogs and two adult cats accepted her immediately,” Fox told iHeartDogs.com. “She has a calm, completely nonthreatening way about her, and they just knew she could be trusted. I changed her name to Patience because Cassidy didn’t seem to fit her.”
Now, her days are filled with love, and Fox has finally seen some expression in that “dead pan” face – Patience finally has something to smile about!
“Since that first day, she has been nothing short of amazing,” Fox said. “She loves every person and animal she meets. The neighborhood children adore her and the feeling is mutual. She is a very happy dog whose entire back end wiggles when she wags her tail.”
Fox takes her on adventures whenever she can – knowing she has never experienced such joys before. One of her favorite places is the Oregon Coast.
But fate wasn’t done. Patience had a job to do.
The shelter had a desperate need for someone to foster three tiny, three-week-old kittens that had no mother. Fox took on the job and after about a week and a half, decided to introduce them to her dogs.
While her little dogs acted a little too “interested,” she says, Patience walked in and something amazing happened.
Patience immediately “adopted” the kittens:
She became a mom again:
“Patience walked into the room and her maternal instincts kicked in immediately. They were not afraid of her at all and love her dearly. When they were very tiny, she worried about them whenever she could not see any one of them. The used to get under their enclosure, and she would poke her nose under and whine until they came out. As they have gotten bigger (I’ve had them for more than 2 months now), she has relaxed. She can sense that they don’t need her as much and are ready to leave the nest.”
“Her mothering has included bathing them with her giant tongue, sleeping with them cuddled against her, letting them climb her, chew on her, and run around and over her when playing with each other.”
Not only is Patience an incredible ambassador for her breed, Fox is quick to say, but for shelter dogs in general and why it is so rewarding to adopt a senior dog.
To donate to the Willamette Humane Society, go here.
