22/07/2022

This morning Truck left us. He and his friend Boo Worthington came to us in early June last year via the North West Rescue Route. And we thank Starting Over Dog Rescue for arranging them to be kennelled for a week until we could make arrangements for them.

The pair had been seized by a rural council and taken to the pound. Truck was so desperate for food he must have been deliberately emaciated and barely made 30 kg. He gained 2.5 kgs in the first week at the pound. Boo had untreated open lesions on her back.

It was very clear that Truck had other problems, but we were still hopeful initially and we were very fortunate to find such terrific foster carers. When Truck went to the specialist in June 22, we were told it was too late as the cancer had already begun to spread through his body, and his carers committed to care for him until the end.

Meanwhile it was very clear that Boo and Truck, now they were being offered a great lifestyle, would prefer not to have to share. We have found this sometimes happening with pairs – dogs that have had nothing, abandoned in the back yard, when put in a loving environment will begin to get snappy with each other and resource guard the new environment they have found themselves in. We were fortunate enough to find a great home for Boo.

Over the last year, Truck put on 15 kgs, and became the dog he should be – although he was never too keen on other dogs.

We so often find with our palliative care dogs, even when we are told they have only a few good weeks left, that they have an ‘Indian Summer’ where they pack in all the love and care they have missed out on. Truck’s ‘summer’ lasted a year and in the last few weeks as he has deteriorated, he was put on pain meds. Then he reached a stage where he was obviously in pain, and we could not help.

Truck’s carers spent the night cuddling him on the couch, he had a cheeseburger, and had a peaceful goodbye.

We’re so sorry Truck that you didn’t come to us earlier. Thank you to Jimmy and Amy for their love and care of this gorgeous boy. Perhaps one day this won’t happen to dogs like you, and you will all have the life you should.

One day.

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒅𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒐𝒏.