Toby
Toby: On March 7, 2020, I bid farewell to a cherished family member. I helped an ailing companion cross the bridge to eternal peace. Toby came to us on Christmas Eve 2018, after his family refused to pick him up from the shelter where he had been turned in as a stray. I think we all figured this would be a hospice case. A 21-year-old dog?! That’s ancient by any standard! And Toby wasn’t just ancient, he was a hot mess! House with a Heart‘s K9 Medical Miracle Fund helped cover his vet bills, including cardiology for an enlarged heart, dental surgery, and senior panel. And Lori Whitehurst visited him often. We will always be beyond grateful!!! Toby surprised us all when he kept on living! Past 6 months, past a year … incredible! He had a fiercely independent spirit and was happiest when left to pace around the front yard on his own. Boy did he give Kelley hell on grooming days! He could make a colossal mess out of a food bowl in seconds flat! And cuddles? Not so fast! Hands off!! But he loved a good game of tag or just following me around. Toby developed a small growth on his neck, which turned out to be a mast cell tumor; it rapidly grew and spread. Because of his age and underlying health conditions, Toby was not a good candidate for surgery. Slowly, he began to fade. He lost his energy and began sleeping a lot. He lost his eyesight, but could still navigate fairly well using his other senses. But then he started losing his balance, and finally his appetite… even for fish sticks, his favorite. It was getting hard to discern any joy for living in this once vibrant pup. I decided it was time to let him go. He had made it well into his 22nd year! RIP, Toby. We will always miss your spirit.