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by Jenni78 on 12 October 2013 - 11:10
A few on here knew Slim and what a character he was. I'd referred to him in VKGSDs breed guess post and figured I'd post about him in his own thread. Thanks to all who sent texts, PMs, and emails. Here's the story of Slim.
A little over 2 years ago, I'd gone to county AC to ask an animal zoning question that the assessor thought they would know. I saw him and could tell he wasn't young. I asked what his story was and was told he'd been left there when his owner's moved. They said he was around/at least 11, best anyone dropping him off remembered. Who the f leaves their 11+yr old at animal control? Good Lord........He was very skinny, you could feel every bone in his spine and their vet thought maybe he had cancer or serious parasitic infection. He had a good personality but they weren't going to put any money into diagnostics, dental, or anything else he was in dire need of due to his age and low probability of adoption. He was brought in with an AmStaff who they admitted ate all his food. They weren't full, so they said he wouldn't be put down right away. I left him there that day but couldn't stop thinking about him.
A week later, I went back to see if he was still there. I said I'd take him so long as he wasn't a cat killer. I could tell he was part sighthound (hard to see in pics but wet, his frame is totally sighthound and his movement and mannerisms were as well), so the cat thing was an issue. I took him in the cat room and could tell he was a mischievous old thing but not a cat killer. I signed the papers and he literally dragged me to my truck and jumped in like we were old friends. He had this enormous grin on his face and sat in the seat with his paws on the dashboard, like we were headed on some amazing adventure even though he didn't know me from Adam. From the first day on, I was his. He had this terrible habit of barking and screaming whenever I'd go outside without him or when he'd see me pull in or out of the driveway. It was only terrible for those in the house with him. Never bothered me much;-). The dog knew I'd done him a favor. I've had dogs who were AS bonded, but never more bonded than he was to me. Any time someone says some nonsense about adults not bonding as strongly as puppies I think of Slim and smh at their ignorance. They're missing out by not adopting an older dog, especially an old dog who hasn't had the greatest life.
We all hear the "abuse" stories and so many are just excuses for weak genetic temperament. This dog had been severely beaten. He would literally scream bloody murder if my bf startled him by appearing behind him, if Slim didn't realize he'd come home, or cornering him in the hallway or bathroom, etc. He had a huge hole in his head. A full grown man's thumb fit lengthwise into this hole. I don't know how he lived through whatever caused that and neither did my vet. His jumpiness wasn't genetic, it was learned. My toddler could do anything to him with no issue, though he'd stick up for himself with a growl or other vocal protest, which was good for my son. My GSDs and Pits don't stick up for themselves and he needs to learn. Anyway...I can't imagine what happened to him to cause that kind of injury or behavior. I have never seen such extreme terror from a dog. He would bite very defensively and aggressively if an adult grabbed him by the collar, but my son could "walk" (read: drag) him all over w/no problem. This wasn't an issue of a dog not "liking" a certain action. This was learned, human-instilled, full-blown terror. May they rot.
He got along with everyone. Caleb and Slim were fast friends. I never thought he'd outlive Caleb, though. Much to my bf's dismay, he seemed to get younger, not older, over the last 2 years and the neighbors even joked I'd tranquilized him and lied to the bf about his age just to smuggle another dog into the house. He was spunky and spry, loved to run like the wind, ate like a vacuum cleaner and was my happy shadow. Everywhere we went, people stopped and said he should be in the movies. The dog had charisma. He was like Orphan Annie's dog or Benji...that scraggly, ugly/adorable type and full of personality. The neighbors laughed at how spunky he was compared to how old he seemed when I brought him home. Amazing what decent food and a bit of kindness can do.
The past few weeks he seemed to sleep more than usual, but was himself in every other way except he groaned a bit in his sleep. Monday night he and Capri were in the bedroom and I heard a lot of walking around or scratching (hardwood floors) and thought it was just Capri being hot and restless because it was louder than his usual slow, quiet walk. In the morning, I saw I was wrong and it had been him, having tremors and stumbling. They progressed slowly throughout the day but all other vitals were good and he recovered in seconds from them. I made a vet appt. for 3:45. Capillary response was good, no dehydration, normal stool, he ate eggs, was happy to go for a walk, etc. He crashed in a matter of 2-3 hours. Tremors turned into collapsing, stools suddenly were bloody, and gums were fading. Lying on his side, I thought I felt something that hadn't been there before. By the time I got him to the vet, he was only half-conscious and now his gums were pale gray so I knew I'd been right and he was bleeding out. I'd expected him to seek solitude, as many dying dogs do, but all he wanted was me. He leaned into me and sighed deeply. My guess was hemangiosarcoma and the vet confirmed it after I told him why I thought that. He was very peaceful and gone in just a few minutes. I brought him home for my son and the other dogs to say good-bye to and then we buried him in his favorite spot.
I miss him terribly, and swear I can still hear his footsteps throughout the house, but am happy to have had the privilege of being his final home. He was loved and he knew it.
Some pics...
In the first row, in order, his pic on Petfinder, first day home:
Random over the next 2 years:
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A little over 2 years ago, I'd gone to county AC to ask an animal zoning question that the assessor thought they would know. I saw him and could tell he wasn't young. I asked what his story was and was told he'd been left there when his owner's moved. They said he was around/at least 11, best anyone dropping him off remembered. Who the f leaves their 11+yr old at animal control? Good Lord........He was very skinny, you could feel every bone in his spine and their vet thought maybe he had cancer or serious parasitic infection. He had a good personality but they weren't going to put any money into diagnostics, dental, or anything else he was in dire need of due to his age and low probability of adoption. He was brought in with an AmStaff who they admitted ate all his food. They weren't full, so they said he wouldn't be put down right away. I left him there that day but couldn't stop thinking about him.
A week later, I went back to see if he was still there. I said I'd take him so long as he wasn't a cat killer. I could tell he was part sighthound (hard to see in pics but wet, his frame is totally sighthound and his movement and mannerisms were as well), so the cat thing was an issue. I took him in the cat room and could tell he was a mischievous old thing but not a cat killer. I signed the papers and he literally dragged me to my truck and jumped in like we were old friends. He had this enormous grin on his face and sat in the seat with his paws on the dashboard, like we were headed on some amazing adventure even though he didn't know me from Adam. From the first day on, I was his. He had this terrible habit of barking and screaming whenever I'd go outside without him or when he'd see me pull in or out of the driveway. It was only terrible for those in the house with him. Never bothered me much;-). The dog knew I'd done him a favor. I've had dogs who were AS bonded, but never more bonded than he was to me. Any time someone says some nonsense about adults not bonding as strongly as puppies I think of Slim and smh at their ignorance. They're missing out by not adopting an older dog, especially an old dog who hasn't had the greatest life.
We all hear the "abuse" stories and so many are just excuses for weak genetic temperament. This dog had been severely beaten. He would literally scream bloody murder if my bf startled him by appearing behind him, if Slim didn't realize he'd come home, or cornering him in the hallway or bathroom, etc. He had a huge hole in his head. A full grown man's thumb fit lengthwise into this hole. I don't know how he lived through whatever caused that and neither did my vet. His jumpiness wasn't genetic, it was learned. My toddler could do anything to him with no issue, though he'd stick up for himself with a growl or other vocal protest, which was good for my son. My GSDs and Pits don't stick up for themselves and he needs to learn. Anyway...I can't imagine what happened to him to cause that kind of injury or behavior. I have never seen such extreme terror from a dog. He would bite very defensively and aggressively if an adult grabbed him by the collar, but my son could "walk" (read: drag) him all over w/no problem. This wasn't an issue of a dog not "liking" a certain action. This was learned, human-instilled, full-blown terror. May they rot.
He got along with everyone. Caleb and Slim were fast friends. I never thought he'd outlive Caleb, though. Much to my bf's dismay, he seemed to get younger, not older, over the last 2 years and the neighbors even joked I'd tranquilized him and lied to the bf about his age just to smuggle another dog into the house. He was spunky and spry, loved to run like the wind, ate like a vacuum cleaner and was my happy shadow. Everywhere we went, people stopped and said he should be in the movies. The dog had charisma. He was like Orphan Annie's dog or Benji...that scraggly, ugly/adorable type and full of personality. The neighbors laughed at how spunky he was compared to how old he seemed when I brought him home. Amazing what decent food and a bit of kindness can do.
The past few weeks he seemed to sleep more than usual, but was himself in every other way except he groaned a bit in his sleep. Monday night he and Capri were in the bedroom and I heard a lot of walking around or scratching (hardwood floors) and thought it was just Capri being hot and restless because it was louder than his usual slow, quiet walk. In the morning, I saw I was wrong and it had been him, having tremors and stumbling. They progressed slowly throughout the day but all other vitals were good and he recovered in seconds from them. I made a vet appt. for 3:45. Capillary response was good, no dehydration, normal stool, he ate eggs, was happy to go for a walk, etc. He crashed in a matter of 2-3 hours. Tremors turned into collapsing, stools suddenly were bloody, and gums were fading. Lying on his side, I thought I felt something that hadn't been there before. By the time I got him to the vet, he was only half-conscious and now his gums were pale gray so I knew I'd been right and he was bleeding out. I'd expected him to seek solitude, as many dying dogs do, but all he wanted was me. He leaned into me and sighed deeply. My guess was hemangiosarcoma and the vet confirmed it after I told him why I thought that. He was very peaceful and gone in just a few minutes. I brought him home for my son and the other dogs to say good-bye to and then we buried him in his favorite spot.
I miss him terribly, and swear I can still hear his footsteps throughout the house, but am happy to have had the privilege of being his final home. He was loved and he knew it.
Some pics...
In the first row, in order, his pic on Petfinder, first day home:
Random over the next 2 years:
by Nans gsd on 12 October 2013 - 12:10
Jenni: I cannot speak and as I have no words. Just know what a beautiful life you gave him and how lucky he was for both of you to have found each other. RIP Slim.
by clc29 on 12 October 2013 - 12:10
Jenni...Slim sounds like a very special dog indeed......and he looks so happy in the beautiful pictures you posted....I'm very sorry to hear he's passed on and I hope you can be comforted by knowing that the last two years of his life were made special by the bond you two shared.
by EuroShepherd on 12 October 2013 - 12:10
hugs Jenni, he was a beautiful dog
by starrchar on 12 October 2013 - 12:10
Crying tears as I write this. I'm so sorry you have lost your special boy. Bless you for rescuing him and giving him the loving home he deserved. God speed beloved Slim.
by Sunsilver on 12 October 2013 - 13:10
What a beautiful tribute, Jenni! I cannot hold back the tears!
He looks so happy in those photos!
He looks so happy in those photos!
by joanro on 12 October 2013 - 14:10
Jenni, you did him justice and he looks to have had a good run with you. He looks like a twin to my thirteen year old Irish Terrier, Dinah, even the rose ears but with undocked tail. She has the same joy for life and loves kids....running is her celebration of life.
by mrdarcy on 12 October 2013 - 14:10
What a lovely story, glad you found each other. Heart felt sympathies for your loss he looks like a real character. Run free Slim.
by Mindhunt on 12 October 2013 - 15:10
A true testimony to the resilience and forgiveness dogs have. A reminder of the greatness a human being can attain in something as simple as bringing home a lost soul.
Beautiful
Beautiful
by Kalibeck on 12 October 2013 - 18:10
There are true love stories that are written in blood. Whether they are pre-destined, or just chance, I have no idea. I just know that they strike right through you when they occur; and they are rare & so precious. When one survives such a love, it's echoes continue through your heart & mind forever.
Condolences on your loss, so very happy Slim had you, his special love.
jackie harris
Condolences on your loss, so very happy Slim had you, his special love.
jackie harris
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