Zeke was something. I wasn't sure what to make of him at first. I happened to be at the animal shelter with my neighbor who was the one who was supposed to find a dog, not me...
She didn't find one, but I sure did. He was in the bottom row of cages. He had his back side to the front of the cage. The volunteer said it was like he had given up. His time was almost up. He wouldn't look or even get up for anyone. He was seven years old. I knew what that meant but I couldn't help the way I felt. Older dogs have just as much love to give as younger dogs. He was already trained and deserved a second chance. He had been there for a few days, and he wouldn't eat anything.
He was the most beautiful German Shepherd I had ever seen. He just looked sad. I got down on one knee and put my fingers through the holes in the cage. The worker warned me not to but I did it anyway. I really wanted him to like me.
He got up after a minute or two and turned around and looked at me, then sniffed my hand. The workers couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. He was so big! I've heard negative things about German Shepherds all my life. Could I really own one?
I didn't take him that day. I had to think if my hubby would let me have another pet. After all, we already had a dog and three cats. After seeing this masculine man's dog though, I knew he wouldn't say no...
The next day we went back. Jim took one look at him and said WOW! Will he eat a cat? He's not much of a cat person so I ignored that comment... Needless to say, Zeke came home with us after we brought our dog Kassie (Poopy) to the shelter to see if they were compatible. The rest is history...
After one night of life with Zeke, I knew it would be interesting. He loved running in our big fenced in yard. He had a friend to play with. The problem was, he wasn't fixed. That would have to change. He was starting to hump everything in his path. Poopy would have none of that. So, the next day he took a day trip to the vet...
We had a good time with the two dogs. We each got to walk one. I had my Poopy Girl and Jim had his Zeke. Poopy knew she would be protected by Zeke. So she liked to start things with other dogs just so she could hide behind Zeke. Not one dog ever messed with him, or her. He just had that "BAD" thing going on...
We had so many good times with Zeke that there isn't enough room here to say everything. My parents swore he was part wolf. The vet thought so, too. I'm not sure. I do know that he liked to dig a big hole, just for himself. If anyone or anything touched that hole he had to make a new one. He would lay in his hole and watch for a NIPSCO utility worker. He just liked to scare people. His mudholes were always out in the evergreens in the backyard. He would also watch for squirrels and rabbits. Poopy would corner them and Zeke was the enforcer. They were a team. I didn't like what they did but I had to accept that was the circle of life in the wild as they say...
He lived to be 14 years old. He was the protector of our household. He accepted our son Josh when he was born. That was a concern, but he was a member of our pack. We all fit together...
The end came after he had a hip condition that his breed is prone to. He couldn't "control" himself anymore and the vet did x-rays and determined his hips and spine were almost disintegrated. That was it. There was no way I would let him suffer. He deserved to go out like the dignified dog he was.
I was with him at the end. He was ready to go. He and I both knew what was going to happen. He laid there on the floor at the vets office and just looked me straight in the eyes as I was crying and talking to him. Then, he went to sleep.
The main thing I want to convey here is that older pets have so much love to give. Don't pass them over just because of their age. They deserve a chance just like the younger ones. AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER. They don't know how old they are. They play and have fun like the others. Their love is unconditional, too!
I miss you Zeke!!!!