May 15th 2011 8:08 pm
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When I was nine to ten years old, the woman who had raised me, passed-away after a brief illness. The human sister, with whom I had only recently became acquainted, told my canine brother, canine sister and me, that she couldn't replace our mom, but she'd always love and take care of us.

I had always been an outdoor dog, and had a myopic view of the world. But life, as I now know it, really began, during that summer of 2004.

That first month was tough. Not only was I grieving the loss of my mother, but I developed a fungal infection in my ears. Then I had an enlarged prostate and was neutered. I was diagnosed with a heart murmur. And I moved to a new home.

Well-meaning friends were concerned about my sister taking in three dogs, two of whom were seniors with newly diagnosed health issues.

But fortunately, my sister wasn't familiar with the old wives' tales of difficulty in housetraining, inability to adapt to changes or learn new tricks, lack of sociability, limited remaining years, etc. I could dispel all those myths, anyway.

Housetraining was never an issue, it seemed innate. I quickly learned to leash walk, and mastered basic tricks. And I effortlessly befriended everyone I encountered.

And that nonsense about considering limited remaining years, before adopting a senior pet?

I have been seeing my cardiologist since 2005. And I am his longest-term patient. Dr. Sanders has made the analogy about how one will read about 90 year-olds who continue to go to work each day, because they love life, and the human interaction is what keeps them going.

Dr. Sanders believes that MY love of life is what keeps me going. My love of life has made me resilient to the losses of my pawrents, unexpected losses of my canine siblings, and the heart condition that has progressed to heart disease.

My arthritic hips and legs have reduced my pace, and hindered the distances that I can comfortably walk, but I still demand my daily walks and opportunities to socialize. I have biweekly appointments for acupuncture, alternating with chiropractic care, and have a minimum of weekly visits to the pet stores or Farmers Market, where I greet all I see.

I am the center of my sister's (now mom's) universe, and even though she initially rescued me, I rescued her right back. Her adoption of a senior pet is the best thing that ever happened to either of us. And it could be for others, as well.