What does a “Bucket List Life” mean for The Amazing Linus?

When you read about the stories of bucket lists for people, you tend to hear about the extreme adventures; sky diving, mountain climbing, or running with the bulls. Although not quite as extreme for animals, the thoughts still go to beach adventures, camping, hiking and the like.  What does that mean when you have adopted a senior dog?

My little man, Linus, is overweight, slightly broken, has very few teeth left and is riddled with arthritis.  While I would love to imagine taking him on beach adventures, hiking in the mountains or taking him on a food tour of the South; the fact is, he cannot do many of those things, because they just wouldn’t be comfortable for him. So, I have spent a week getting to know this kind gentleman and seeing what brings him the most joy in life. After all, isn’t that what a bucket list is for?

Linus appears to be the happiest when he has his pack around him.  I may be busy working and he may be sleeping, but every so often he will lift his head, look my way and give me a tail wag before putting his head back down for the rest of his nap. Ok, listing is starting: 1. Unlimited Naps 2. Time with my human pack.

Linus loves exploring and smelling new smells. We go on “bimbles” (a new term I have learned from my UK friends, which means a “a relaxed, easy stroll around”) each morning and evening.  We don’t walk too far, so as not to cause him pain, but just far enough that it keeps his joints loose and allows him to explore. He discovered yesterday that the human grandparents have a fenced backyard that is filled with differing terrain and places to explore and sniff.  He even found a dead chipmunk, he was not allowed to eat it, but finding it gave him joy. The list continues to grow: 3. Endless exploration.

Linus can’t get enough kisses, hugs and “scritches” (just like scratches, but more fun) he will come up to you, stick his little head under your hand and show you how, if you need instructions.  He has even tried to give himself butt scritches by rubbing under the coffee table; I have tried to capture this on video, but he is sneaky and stops as soon as the video starts rolling. Well, this is easy to add to the list:  4.  Bottomless Kisses and Hugs. 5. Boundless scritches.

Linus is also heavily food motivated. This is a challenge because he is also overweight, which is horrible for his arthritis. I try to balance, if I know there is a treat coming, I may reduce his food for breakfast, so he can have a treat in the afternoon. We may go for an additional bimble if he feels up to it, so he can have a little treat after dinner.  I read blogs and consult Twitter for the best recipes for healthy snacks and experiment with him on what he likes, what he can chew, and what makes that curly little tail wag the most.  This list just gets bigger by the minute:  6. Snackies!

For now, this Linus’ bucket list:

1. Unlimited naps
2. Time with his human pack
3. Endless explorations
4. Bottomless kisses and hugs
5. Boundless scritches
6. Snackies

Will this list grow as we get to know each other more? Yes. Will this list grow as he becomes more capable of doing more things? Yes.  Am I willing to carry him a ½ mile to get to a beach where he can dip his toes in the water, to say he has been to the beach? Hell yes!  He is my little man and I will give him the world.  This the start of a great adventure my Amazing Linus!

Why we adopted a senior dog

I have received many questions or statements about our choice to adopt a senior dog. Why?  He is only going to live a few years if you are lucky, why put your heart through that? Do you know how expensive it is to have a senior dog? They don’t play or love you like a puppy.  You can’t train them, you know the old saying, “you can’t teach an old dog a new trick.”

My thoughts? You never know how much time you will have with any animal.   I have had friends and family who have brought animals into their lives who have only lived a few years; you aren’t given a promised timeline when you bring an animal into your life.  I feel strongly that It is not the amount of time you have with the animal; it is the quality of time you have with them. I have been fortunate enough to adopt several animals in my lifetime, some were with me 23 years (yes, there was a cat!) and some have been with me only a few years. The length of time they were with me did not reflect how much my heart hurt when they were gone, each one took a piece of my heart with them. I am someone who loves quickly with animals; I am the person on Twitter who has fallen in love with everyone else’s dogs, even though I haven’t met them. It is just who I am.

It can be expensive to take on a senior pet. We knew this going into it and we prepared for it. I have had young animals in my life who were equally expensive. I could tell the story of what my father called, “The Golden Kitty.” This cat, although golden in color, was not called this because of how he looked; he was called this because he was riddled with health problems from an early age. Each time we would take him to the vet, my father would say that I needed to prepare for the worst, and each time the vet would say, “No, I think we can surgically fix this and he will do well, it’s not time to let him go yet.” My father would sigh, look into my big brown eyes filled with tears and pull out his checkbook. Most times when you adopt a senior animal, they have been seen by vets, you know what you are getting into before you start, so you can know if it is something that you can afford.

As far as playing and teaching senior animals, it all depends on the animal.  I have had young dogs come into my care that didn’t know how to play or perform basic obedience skills, but they blossomed into playful, well-behaved pups in no time.  On the flip side of this coin, I have found that most senior animals like routine and with that they become trained to do new tricks you didn’t even think you wanted to teach them.  For example, sweet Linus has learned in less than a week to sit, then lie down to accept his meals.  These are skills I have taught him. However, what I didn’t teach him but what he does anyway, is moving his arms out to accept the bowl when he is ready to eat; so in that way, he has trained me to know when he is ready and comfortable to put the food bowl down.  Young or old, each animal develops their own personality and skills to live their best life with their families.

I think that when you are ready to bring an animal into your life, the animal that is meant to be yours will make themselves known. Did I have my heart set somewhat on a Golden Retriever puppy? Yes. Was it the right time for our family? No. Did I then search for senior Goldens to rescue? Yes. Did I find one to bring into our home? No. What came to me, when I was ready, was a sweet old man who is overflowing with love.  He isn’t a Golden, he isn’t young. He is deaf, he is somewhat broken; but he is my little man and he has searched my heart for the piece that was meant for him and he has settled in.  Whether he is with us for six months or six years, that piece of my heart is his and will cross with him over the rainbow bridge when he is ready, and I will be better for knowing him.

I plan on holding Linus’ paw through this adventure that is his life from this day forward. I plan to love him with everything in my heart.  I plan to take care of him for as long as he needs, and when he is tired and cannot go on, I plan to hold him close so he can feel my heartbeat until he takes his last breath. I will whisper into his deaf ears how much he was loved, what a wonderful boy he was, and how the field across the rainbow bridge is filled with butterflies to chase, never-ending food bowls, and a body that does not feel pain.  I will cry and then I will find my place again, holding onto the cherished memories he provided, and I will learn to love another animal again; because he would want it to be that way.

And that is why I have adopted a senior dog and I am glad that we did.