It has been just over one year since our family made an agonizing decision that many pet owners eventually face — to end the suffering of our beloved yellow Labrador retriever, a dog we had since his birth 14 years earlier.
Despite the amount of time that has passed, reminders of A.J. continue to thrive in this household and in our hearts — screensavers, pop-up memories on social media, and the everyday sound of the windchimes our daughter, Kayla, gave us in his memory.
A month into that still-raw grief, Kayla, a trooper with the Michigan State Police, handled a complaint involving a black Labrador retriever mix that had been dumped with nine others in the Jordan Valley north of Mancelona.
She grew attached to the dog during the drive to the Antrim County Animal Shelter. A few days later she adopted the unclaimed lab, named her Rosie (in memory of her grandmother) and brought her home to meet Oakley, her family’s German shorthaired pointer.
The two dogs were like best friends that picked up where they left off. Running in circles, playing with toys, licking faces and ears and napping on top of each other, Rosie and Oakley were meant to be.
News of the nine abandoned dogs and Rosie’s adoption put an emphasis on the emergency that shelters throughout Michigan faced — they were filled to capacity with unwanted dogs and cats. Word spread through the media, triggering some families to open their hearts and homes to rescue.
By the second night, Rosie was sharing a dog bed with Oakley. It is a joy to see Oakley running circles around the pond, and Rosie plunging in to swim across to catch her sister on the other side. During outings the dogs are either fully alert and looking out the truck window, or curled together for a short nap.
Rosie is preoccupied with remote controls and shoes. She keeps herself busy during the day carrying all of their shoes — one at a time — up the stairs and dropping them on the kitchen floor. When they are here to visit she makes a beeline for the living room to retrieve a remote control.
Loud noises, such as fireworks or a rifle shot, make Rosie tremble and must be a reminder of a scary experience from her past. But her social expressions, unending desires to play fetch, and tail-wagging tells us she is where she needs and wants to be.
On the day she brought her home, Kayla had said, “I’m not sure what your beginning was, but I promise you a life full of kisses, doggie bones and endless ducks to retrieve.”
One year later, she wished Rosie a happy “Found Ya/Gotcha Day,” and we recalled a year full of cuddles, swimming, car rides, and frisbee.
I gifted Kayla with a beautiful, personalized photo book and an account of her first year of life with Rosie. Recalling the sad decision Rosie’s previous owner made to dump 10 dogs into the valley to survive on their own, I’m grateful that Kayla was the officer who responded to the call.
We may have mended Rosie’s broken heart, but she filled and consoled the hearts of an entire family who has never forgotten A.J. For that, we are blessed and thankful.