The Most Rewarding Foster Fail

Our sweet, gentle soul, Gramps, has left the world.

We are heartbroken, but so full of gratitude for the 4 incredible years the universe gave us to spoil him and give him the best final chapter to his life. We never knew what his journey was like before us, but we knew it had been rough.

Gramps

The day he came into my life he was reborn and he was finally HOME.

I remember him tiptoeing around my condo, bumping into things, trying to learn this new unfamiliar place that somehow also felt safe.

We took a nap together on my sofa with him in my arms and I knew that first day he was meant to be mine. I was an instant foster fail. I wasn’t in the market for a new dog and my hands were already full with my 2 yorkies, but this little guy unexpectedly found his way into my heart and snuggled right in.

He was a fixture at the foot of the bed or the end of the couch under his blanket snoring with his little tongue out. He was most comfortable that way, knowing that I was close by and able to pet him and call him one of his many nicknames. He didn’t need a lot of attention, but he was never more content than when one of us would hold him like a baby and call him Grampy Champy. He started out as my dog, but it took little time for Beau to cave and fall in love with him too.with him too. He went from not being allowed on the sofa, to having his own special blanket and spot next to one of us.

Gramps

He may have been 15, 16, 17, (who knows?) but he was absolutely our little baby. I fully admit to singing him little lullabies and I think he liked it.

Years ago my mom gave me this Velveteen Rabbit quote to hang on the wall and I loved it, but I wasn’t quite sure then what significance it had other than being beautiful words and a lovely piece of art. Now I know that it is our sweet boy who was our velveteen rabbit and he was truly REAL, fur loved off and all.

Thank you to everyone who followed Gramps’ golden years on FB. He was one of a kind and he had the sweetest soul of any dog I’ve ever had. He melted my husband’s heart and because he came along just as Bodhi was getting sick, he helped heal some of that pain and bring along some much needed joy. He gladly let us put him in stupid Christmas sweaters and he posed for our family photos without protest. He didn’t even mind being third wheel to my prissy spoiled yorkies. He was just happy to be loved and be apart of the crew.

Did he let being blind hold him back? I don’t think so. He experienced everything in his own way at his own pace.

I’d never rescued a dog before and while I knew I signed up for inevitable heartbreak, it was absolutely worth it in the end to feel and to give that special type of love. The only word I know to describe it is magic. I knew this day would come, but I also had no idea we would get 4 amazing years of memories with him that will keep my heart going through the hard days when I feel his loss the most.

Thank you West Friendship Animal Hospital, Dr. Gibbons especially, who treated Gramps like the true angel that he was. Thank you Small Miracles for rescuing Gramps and other souls like him and giving them a second chance at life and love.

My dearest Gramps, we love you deeply and we are forever grateful that during the most crazy time in the world, March of 2020, the universe brought you into our lives like an unexpected gift.