When I adopted Remy in the summer of 2006 it was for all the wrong reasons.
The first of which was that I was having so much trouble with Max’s separation anxiety I decided to bring in another dog as a last ditch effort to get Max to relax when I left him at home.
The second? When I saw his photo on the Petfinder Website, he looked just like Max and his name was listed as… you guessed it, Max.
How’s that for a bunch of wrong reasons to adopt a dog?
At the time I was living about 15 minutes west of Manhattan in New Jersey. Remy, or “Max” at the time, was at BARCS, the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, about 4 hours away in Maryland.
The first time I took the trip, yes there was more than one trip, I asked to see “Max” by name. They jotted down my information and when they realized how far I had journeyed, they looked at me like I was a crazy person. I just shrugged my shoulders, told them, “long story”.
The next step was meeting him in the outside pen. They brought the dog out, closed the gate behind us and left us. He was pulling in every direction but me, so I look him off his lead. This is the part of the story where I tell you it was love at first sight. That we rolled around on the grass together and felt a connection that we had had never felt before. The truth? He basically spent the entire time sniffing around the edge of the fencing, ignoring that I was even there.
After five to ten anti-climactic minutes, I brought him back inside and declared, “I’ll take him.” Yep, I’m a glutton for punishment. I cleary DON’T see the forest for the trees. (Feel free to tack on your own favorite clichéd, ironic saying right here.)
The clerk looked back at me with a strange look on her face. “Really?” she said.
That even worried me a bit. What was I getting into here? “Yep, I’ll take him.”
“Okay, come back in a week after he’s been fixed and he’s yours.”
“Wait, I can’t take him now.”
“You can pay for him now”, she replied.
I took out my wallet, pulled out my credit card and prepared myself for the influx of paperwork. Then I drove four hours back home without a dog.
From clockwise:
1. Remy at shelter in Baltimore.
2. Max & Remy become brothers.
3. Remy at 13.
While my friend waited in my backyard with Remy, I brought Max out to join us. They sniffed and sniffed and sniffed (hounds, what can I say) and than Remy found a hole in the fence that Max never cared about and off he went, running through the neighborhood like a crazy dog. A portent of things to come.
Yes, I caught him and yes, it was the first of many escapes. The nose of a Beagle and the smarts of a Border Collie was a mixed blessing indeed. But in my own defense, I’m sure you experienced the same thing. A friend would come over and not immediately close the door behind them, hence providing an ample amount of space for the dog in your house that was always checking for escape routes. It was also a good tell that your friend never owned a dog.
Remy was a fun, rambunctious dog. He spun in cricles. He was the epitomé of a joyful dog, whereas Max was a bit more low key and soulful. But in spite of it all, my gambit had worked. Even though Remy was a dog that Max only kinda put up with, he succeeded in bringing down Max’s separation anxiety quite a bit.
Over the years, Remy took to his role of understudy for the Dog Files like a champ. Slowly, very slowly, really very slowly, Remy mellowed out a bit and I believe, enjoyed his job as Max’s crazy little buddy.
Many years later, in March of 2015, Max, truly my best friend, passed away at the age of thirteen and a half. It’s a pain I still feel over two and a half years later.
After Max died, many people on the Dog Files Facebook Page asked me, over and over again, when, not if,
I was going to adopt a new dog.
But I had already made my decision. Remy spent most of his life as second fiddle to Max. He deserved to have ALL of my time
to himself for the rest of his life.
That following Summer, I noticed Remy was coughing quite a bit. I took him to my vet and found out he had an enlarged heart and all the pain I had just felt with Max came pouring back over me. They told me not to worry, that Remy probably had a ton of time left and gave me two prescriptions that I’d have to give him daily for the rest of his life.
Two years later, Remy has his good days and his bad days. He stumbles a bit when walking and stairs can be a chore for him to climb. I know his time on this Earth is limited and I wish his birthday’s were joyous things for me, but they just remind me of the little time I have left with him.
It’s been a tough two and a half years for me. I’ve lost my best friend, Max. I’ve lost the greatest Dad you could ever wish for, after watching him battle a horrible muscular disease for two years. And now, with more and more frequency, the restlessness at night, the heavy breathing, and the coughing that Remy deals with, reminds me that I’m going to have to go through all this one more time. And probably sooner, then later.
But Remy doesn’t know any of that. He puts up with the coughing and the heavy breathing and the restlessness at night the only way he knows. With a big, beautiful Remy smile that he wears like no one else. He still can’t wait for his meals and he still loves prancing around at the dog park, albeit a little slower now, and he still loves bugging me all day for more treats.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Happy 13th Birthday, my dear Remy! I can only hope I’ve shown as much love to you over the years, as you’ve shown to me.
With love, from your very sad, but proud Dad.
The post My Dog Celebrated His Thirteenth Birthday And I’m Sad appeared first on Dog Files.
]]>Do you know a teen or tween that wants to become a veterinarian? What if they could attend a week-long camp at one of the most prestigious veterinary colleges in North America? If they are a junior high school student or entering junior high school this fall, this is the contest for them!
Royal Canin has teamed up with Vet Set Go, the only internet community for aspiring veterinarians, to help three very special students achieve the dream of a lifetime!
Three lucky grand prize winners will have their tuition, housing and meals covered for the Auburn Junior Veterinary Camp this summer – all made possible by Royal Canin and Vet Set Go. (Excludes travel.) Ten runners-up will also receive a free copy of Vet Set Go’s award-winning quick start guide to becoming a veterinarian.
Participants will learn about veterinary medicine first-hand in classrooms, laboratories, and outdoor facilities. They will also learn about public health, food animals, wildlife, anatomy, xrays, and first aid, as well as gain valuable mentoring about veterinary science careers.
The week long event will be an incredible experience for that future veterinarian in your family!
To enter, middle school students (or those entering middle school in fall 2017) and their parents should visit Vet Camp Contest between April 4 and May 4, 2017.
What is the Auburn Junior Vet Camp?
For over 125 years, the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine has educated and trained more than 6,400 veterinarians and more than 500 specialists and researchers. Now, through Auburn’s popular and prestigious Junior VET Camp for students in grades 6-8, dedicated middle school students who wish to become veterinarians are able to gain valuable mentoring about veterinary science careers. Through the Become a Vet: Camp Contest 2017, three dedicated students will have the chance to attend with their tuition, housing and meals covered! Click here to learn more about Junior VET Cam.
Fun Facts:
- National surveys show that “veterinarian” is the umber one career choice of tweens*
- 18% (1 in 5) of tweens in the United States want to become a veterinarian
- This represents approximately 6 million tweens & teens in the United States
- Veterinary medicine is a calling. The majority of veterinarian practicing today decided to become a vet before they were 13 years of age
*Duracell, Time to Play Study, 2009, Nationwide survey of 512 8-12 year old US children
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]]>This November, Purina wants to thank the four-legged friends who make our lives so special. In advance of Thanksgiving and the National Dog Show, Purina is inviting pet owners across the nation to show the world how they thank their pets.
Post a picture to social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), showing how you thank your pet using the hashtag #DogThanking and tagging @Purina. For every original post submitted through November 27 that includes @Purina and the hashtag, #DogThanking, Purina will donate one dollar to the Canine Health Foundation – up to $50,000 – to help further pet health research.
Submitted videos, photos and posts may be shown during the National Dog Show Presented by Purina, on Thanksgiving Day!
The National Dog Show Presented by Purina, which will premiere on Thanksgiving Day on NBC!
The post Purina Will Donate $1 Per Post To The Canine Health Foundation! appeared first on Dog Files.
]]>We are excited to finally announce that our documentary, Second Chance Dogs, is now live on Netflix!
Dog Files would like to give a big shout out to our ASPCA partners in this collaboration. It’s been a journey of many years and Dog Files couldn’t be more proud to showcase the great work the ASPCA does for animals.
“Our mission at Dog Files has always been to show the world that dogs deserve our love, care and respect,” said Kenn Bell, creator of Dog Files and director of Second Chance Dogs. “After creating the Hero Dogs Of 9/11 Documentary for Animal Planet, our latest doc, Second Chance Dogs, really hits that message home again and having it on Netflix opens the world to a day when all pets are safe and loved.”
The documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center and follows six dogs rescued from cruel conditions and given new hope for happy lives. Through innovative therapies and dedication to recovery, behavior experts at the ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center help these vulnerable and victimized dogs become suitable for adoption.
“Animals traumatized and betrayed by abuse and neglect are still at risk when adoption is not yet appropriate, but programs like the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center help rebuild their trust so they can be placed in safe and loving homes,” said Matthew Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA. “Watching this process unfold in ‘Second Chance Dogs’ helps people understand that we can change the fate of these animals when we understand the possibilities and commit ourselves to that goal.”
Launched in March 2013, the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J., is the first-ever facility dedicated to providing behavioral rehabilitation to canine victims of neglect and cruelty, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding cases. To date, the center has worked with more than 300 homeless dogs from various backgrounds, many of whom have already been adopted.
“Dogs who come through our Rehab Center have experienced so much pain and suffering at the hands of humans, and they’ve never had a chance to live their lives as pets,” said Kristen Collins, senior director of ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Rehabilitation. “By implementing behavior treatments based on sound scientific principles, we’re able to help the vast majority of these dogs overcome their fears and become comfortable with normal pet activities like walking on a leash, enjoy petting, and playing with toys.”
“We hope animal lovers across the country enjoy the film and feel inspired to open their hearts and homes to abused and neglected dogs,” added Collins. “They deserve a second chance.”
Second Chance Dogs is executive produced by the ASPCA and Dog Files. “Second Chance Dogs” was directed, shot, and edited by Kenn Bell, a freelance filmmaker and animal welfare advocate. In 2011, Kenn developed the critically-acclaimed documentary “Hero Dogs of 9/11,” which aired on Animal Planet in both the U.S. and Canada.
If you would like to talk to Dog Files Media about creating a documentary or short video for yourself, company or group contact us here.
Links:
For more information, please visit www.secondchancedogsfilm.com
Watch the “Second Chance Dogs” documentary on Netflix.
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