I don't ever remember a time growing up, when our family of eight  was without a dog.   Even when the six  kids were grown up and on their own, my parents always had a dog.  In my first 25 years of life, we owned two dogs who both lived to be 18 and 19 years respectively, and it was my Dad who was their main caregiver in the later years.

About 8 years ago, Dad lost his dog to old age.  Joe Buck , a collie/husky cross, was yet another dog who had been a loyal companion to my parents for 18 years.  Dad,  who didn't have a lot of other hobbies, walked him around the neighbourhood three or four  times a day, without fail.  In the year following Joe's death, we noticed that  my Dad was not walking nearly as much as  he used to and he seemed lost without his dog.   We thought it was time to get another one, so, my Mom, Dad, my 10 year old daughter and I paid a visit to the Humane Society to see what kind of dogs they had.

Mom and Dad had determined that since they were approaching their 80's, they  didn't want  a  new puppy. They were looking for a quiet,  older dog who was already trained, but not too old that it couldn't go on long walks.  As we wandered around looking at the dogs in the kennel, one caught our eye, because it came right to the door of the cage, and seemed to take a real  interest in my Dad.  He was a beautiful collie, with very sad eyes, and we discovered that he had been rescued, along with his father and three sisters, from a very abusive home life.  He was the only one of the five collies remaining at the kennel , his sisters had been adopted and one-year-old BJ was all alone at the shelter. We continued on our way to look at some older dogs and in the process passed by BJ's kennel a couple of times. Each time he seemed drawn to my Dad, and to my daughter, and they to him.  We could see that he had issues, he was very nervous, and much younger than we were looking for, but it was obvious  that he was very taken with Dad.   After some consultation with the kennel staff, Mom and Dad decided to take BJ home.

It was an effort to get him in the car, he didn't want to climb up, and when we got him home, he walked around and around in small circles for months.  They told us that was because he had been kept in a very cramped space at his former home.  He didn't seem very healthy, but staff said that once he found a good home and received proper care and food,  his nervousness and health issues would subside.  For the first  year or so, he would not walk up or down stairs, he needed to be carried. We were told he probably had been kicked down stairs  at his old home, likely on a regular basis.  He was very nervous of most people, but he stuck to my Dad like glue -when Dad sat down, BJ sat at his feet and didn't move.  He  never played like most one-year-old pups would.   The vet told us that it  was obvious BJ had been badly treated, that it would take him years to adjust, and he may never be completely healed emotionally.   I can?t tell you how many times my Mom questioned whether they were smart  to have taken him in, they loved him, but he didn't seem to be getting much better for quite a while.

As the years passed, BJ and Dad formed an unbreakable bond. The daily walks became  a social occasion for both of them.  Neighbours looked forward to seeing them both, and though BJ has never entirely lost his nervousness around people, he became entirely comfortable with Dad.

A few years ago,  my Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers, and this past year, he moved into a nursing Home.   BJ stays at home with Mom, whom he now protects very closely.  He lays at her feet as he used to with Dad, and sleeps beside her bed at night.   He visits my Dad at the nursing home weekly,  and I can't say which of them is more excited to see the other.  BJ prances around as soon as he sees Dad, and Dad proudly takes BJ on his leash around the floor to visit the other residents, who love to see him.  When they go out to the cafe or into a lounge to sit and visit, BJ lays at Dad's feet, just as he did for years at home.

Dad couldn't tell you BJ's name now, but when he sees him, his eyes light up and his grin is a mile wide. There is no doubt in my mind that BJ has had a much better life since the day my Dad brought him home. And BJ  has filled my Dad's later years with some very special moments. Could it be perhaps, that they were destined to rescue each other?

Submitted by Lesley Kimble