“At the ‘bark park,’ most dogs unleash their wild side, even the calmest puppies, who tap into their instincts, running themselves ragged with their fellow furry companions in a spacious, safe, green environment.
But not Rocky.
When we took our toy poodle to the local dog park, he spent the entire visit leisurely strolling along the walkway. He was content, yet he stuck to the sidewalk, step by step.
My daughter, a teenager at the time, joked that Rocky looked like he was heading to Starbucks for a latte and a newspaper.
He carried himself with a certain dignity and determination that, nearly two decades later, would also characterize his passing.”
Last February, at 18 years old, Rocky passed on to paradise. Like countless others, I experienced the deep pain of losing a beloved family member. Saying goodbye to Rocky was incredibly difficult, but having him in our lives profoundly impacted us.
Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates the importance of caring for a companion animal after the initial excitement of bringing them home fades.
Dogs are often called a man’s (or woman’s) best friend, but too often, we don’t return the favor. National Dog Day is coming up on Monday, serving as a reminder of both the joys and challenges that come with caring for dogs, who offer incredible rewards along with significant responsibilities.
Nearly 87 million households in the U.S.—66% of all homes—have pets, with 65.1 million of those families having a dog.
Yet, despite this widespread love for dogs, 3.1 million companion dogs end up in community shelters each year, many of them surrendered or abandoned by their owners.
Rocky was one of those dogs returned by someone who was meant to care for him. I’ll never understand why they gave him up, but it was their loss.
At eight months old, we welcomed Rocky into our home after he had been abandoned and hurt. He was terrified of anything resembling a stick, so we took extra precautions when sweeping, mopping, or even wrapping gifts with long tubes of paper.
These were important responsibilities, but they came with immense rewards.
I quickly learned why poodles are such a beloved breed—Rocky was intelligent, adorable, curious, and incredibly affectionate. We were determined to keep him safe.
When my son was diagnosed with autism, he was hesitant to interact with dogs, as their unpredictable, loud, and messy behavior made him anxious.
However, Rocky’s calm and gentle demeanor made it easy for anyone, including my son, to connect with him.
Rocky had a soothing presence that naturally brought people closer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was battling depression, Rocky was my constant source of comfort.
His warm snuggles were always available, providing the emotional support I desperately needed. It’s well-known that dogs can lower blood pressure and boost moods, and Rocky did just that for me.
It’s no surprise they became the ‘heroes’ of the pandemic.
The most precious gift Rocky gave us came in his final years. As he aged, like many senior dogs, Rocky experienced physical and mental decline—he lost his hearing, was nearly blind, survived cancer, and was weakened by a stroke. Yet, he remained determined and carried himself with dignity.
It became our turn to fully embrace the responsibility of caring for him. My love for my little companion deepened as he relied on us more than ever.
Older companion animals often face serious risks.
According to research, the likelihood of a dog or cat being adopted drops significantly as they age due to the stiff competition from younger animals with more ‘desirable’ traits.
Additionally, older pets are more likely to be returned after adoption, putting them at a higher risk of euthanasia in shelters.
The people who gave up Rocky nearly 20 years ago missed out on the incredible gift of providing unconditional love to another living being.
With Rocky, I could see the immediate effects of the care I provided—whether it was guiding him outside, pretending to season his prescription dog food, or carrying him to bed when he was too tired to move from his little couch.
I’m grateful I had the opportunity to fulfill these responsibilities.
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