Steve

Steve is a 13 year old cocker spaniel. Steve came from a “breeder” who docked his tail badly as a puppy (damaging the base of his tail and pelvis), allowed him to become infested with fleas and worms, and then sold him to an older couple.  Almost immediately, little Steve developed allergies (which he’s struggled with ever since), and along the way developed dry eye, a corneal injury, a cruciate ligament injury, and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). When one of his people died and the other was no longer able to take care of him, he and his remaining person moved in with family members who did not want a dog. This little guy was so sad: He’d lost one of his people, moved to a place where he wasn’t wanted, and was made to live in a 60″ x 60″ space separate from the only family he knew. He was very, very lonely.

Fortunately, someone contacted Old Dog Haven for help, and Steve was placed with an ODH Final Refuge family who were delighted to have him. His ODH mom reports that, “At first, Steve chose to sleep in another room, then he moved a bit closer, then he moved into the same room. Now, he often sleeps under my chair so I have to be very careful about getting up. I think he has decided he will keep me!” His people tell us that Steve’s a sweet, quiet boy who wants to be friends with everyone he meets. He especially adores his dog walker! Steve very much wants to be buddies with Zeke, his fellow fur sibling, but Zeke is a Shih Tzu who is less interested in making friends, or at least not quickly. But Steve is, above all, a very patient dog and he will soon win Zeke over.

Now that Steve’s finally receiving the love and good care that he deserves, he is blooming. His mom shares, “He has little bursts of energy, especially in the morning…he goes bounding outside, does his business, then bounds back inside ready for the first nap of the day. I am so lucky that Steve has joined our household – thank you Old Dog Haven!”

Update:  Steve showed the amazing resilience of old dogs and came to really enjoy all the love and care from his Final Refuge mom.  Recently he became ill and it was time to let him go.  He will be greatly missed and was a very gentle soul.  It brings us great comfort to know that he had a last chapter filled with love and the very best care