Marley

Marley lived his entire 10 years in Tavares with Jeannie on Caroline Street. He knew all the rules and how each day would go and that he would sleep next to Jeannie each night in the water bed. Life was just how he wanted it. Then, one day, it all changed. Jeannie was being forced to move to an apartment and her pets could not go with her.

The cats and the other dog, Bella, had all left. Jeannie had found other homes for them. Bella was only 5 so it was not too hard to find someone who wanted a beautiful dog like her. Marley was 10, he didn’t walk too well, he had some significant fur loss, and old dog bumps and bugles on his back and tail. He was an Australian shepherd mix and he had a mind of his own. Finding a home for Marley wasn’t going well and time for Marley to find a home was running out. His only option appeared to be the county pound and they didn’t consider him to be adoptable. His mom was not going to give up on him however! Jeannie got a ride to the Tavares Police station and worked on the officers to help her save Marley, to find him a home! One of the officers posted Marley’s story and picture on Facebook! We reached out to Jeannie about giving Marley a soft landing at our house.

Marley came to live with us on Sunday, May 29th ,2016. Carl and I had met him the night before at Jeannie’s house. Jeannie had to be out by the first so she was busy packing and boxes were everywhere. I said I would come back for Marley the next day so they would have one more night together.

I came to get Marley alone, no dogs and no Carl. Marley was not wanting to go with me so Jeannie got in the back seat with him and exited out the other side of the vehicle. We both cried. I got Jeannie’s new address before I left so I could get in touch with her later.

Marley and I went to the dog park in Umatilla on the way home. I wanted to spend some time with him alone before he met the other dogs. He had never been to a dog park before. He was not too impressed. His ability to walk was very poor. I began to think he might only have a few weeks. I had to help him back into the SUV. He was worn out. I was concerned.

I took Marley to the vet on Tuesday. He got his nails trimmed, flea meds and a rabies shot. His ability to walk improved greatly! You could tell he felt better! Marley would have more visits to the vet to address his ears. They reeked! At one point, his ears were packed with medicine and he could not hear! It was hilarious seeing us using hand signals to him! Putting him on a limited ingredient food without any chicken in his diet, would keep the ear infections away! His fur started coming in soft and full but the old dog bumps remained.

Marley bonded with me right away! No dog was to sleep in my room but Marley did within a few days of his arrival. He got a new dog bed and it was in my room. He liked that. He never slept on any other dog bed and he would go into my room to sleep during the day and at night. He knew he belonged there.

Marley tolerated Emma and Belle but rarely interacted with them. I mattered, they just lived here. He liked Carl also and would go to him if I was gone. Marley was certain he should be outside if I was outside. He felt he should go with me in the car! He should sit outside with me or sit outside alone regardless. Marley knew what should be and he helped us see what he knew too!

Marley liked food but he was picky about when and what he would eat. He usually liked getting toast but then some days, he turned his head away. Treats were not a favorite for him either.

Outside, I would call him and he would keep on going. He would not respond to his name. I would ask him if he wanted a hug, and he would come running for the hug and then walk off again. He loved riding in the SUV and he would go hide behind it so he could “get in” if I was going somewhere.

Marley walked pretty well but it was always an effort for him to get up. He acted every bit of 10 years old. His spirit was good and the spark in his eyes let you know he was thinking and deciding what “he would do”. Marley would growl at me, sounding very serious. His eyes never left mine and his tail would be wagging! He was not warning me, he was sharing his secret dog talk with me because he knew I could be trusted!

One day, I noticed he had a sac on the inside of his back leg. It looked like another old dog bump thing. I was about to have surgery so Marley was going to need to wait until I was recovered after the surgery to go to the vet. The sac grew fast…. I took Marley to the vet in the days before I had my surgery. The news was not good. It was a fast-growing cancer. It would be a matter of time but probably not too much time. I made the decision to keep Marley comfortable and not to do surgery on this old dog. It would be too hard on him and it would not buy him much. We went home with a boat load of pain meds. We got to spend time together while I healed from my surgery.

The pain medication made such a difference in Marley’s life! I wish I had realized the pain he was in much, much sooner! He ran around like a pup! Our trips to the dog park were wonderful for him! He played with other dogs, ran across the park, greeted people to get petted! I would wait at the gate with the other dogs until Marley decided he would come to me to go home. He made people smile to see him loving life!

The next two months went well with Marley. He felt good and he was happy. He loved getting hugs, riding in the truck, and just being with us! Jeannie continued to come every few weeks to spend the day with us. It was all good!

All too soon, the bumps on his back became painful, draining tumors, his health declined and his pain meds were not as effective. I could see in his eyes as he looked at me that my boy was beginning to suffer.

On November 12, 2016, I took Marley to the vet for the last time. I stayed with him until it was all over. I told Jeannie. I went to her place and we spent the rest of the day crying and reminiscing about our boy.

It is now mid-January 2017 and I am crying as I write this. I still miss Marley so much! He was a wonderful dog and such a loyal friend! We had six months together. I thought I was blessing him by giving him a home but he gave me his heart! I was so blessed! While I cry, and I get all stuffed up, I would do it all over again even knowing it would could not last long. When I look back at my life, I will be glad that I chose to give this dog a home.

In Marley’s honor, Carl and I decided to adopt another senior Aussie. We didn’t need three dogs when we got Marley but having just two dogs no longer seemed quite right. Marley’s spot needed to bless another dog.

Sissy is 7 years old and she has been with us since November 26th. She is a scared little dog who needs us to love on her. I think she is going to do well with us. Marley’s love is blessing her too!