Red came to Muttville at about 9 years old in January 2014. He was a MinPin Chi. I’d been looking for a rescue dog and Muttville posted lots of photos of senior dogs needing homes.
At first, I passed over Red, but my New York City daughter Bekah recognized him as potentially mine!
Robin and her daughter Hanora were fostering Red for Muttville, and through Red I got a lifelong human friend in Robin – as did Red. Red and I went home to Arcata in May after I adopted him.
Whenever I traveled, and it was a lot, Robin had Red. So, he had his “country estate” in Arcata, a condo in the sky in Emeryville, and a San Francisco urban dwelling.
Red had a very special relationship with my daughter. I’m grateful she was able to come to Arcata at the end of August and spend eight days with us. That look he would give her is forever embedded in my memory.
Red and I were constant companions. Those six words have such important content for me. This last year I have been his personal attendant 24/7, happily.
WE RESCUED EACH OTHER. We really did.
Well, my heart feels as if it has broken into a million pieces as Red took a turn for the worse in October, and I knew the time had come. Malcolm Richardson and Melissa Moser of Myrtletown Vet Hospital were the midwives for his final breath as I held him in my arms.
When his cremains join my Corgi’s in the yard, his stone will read “We rescued each other.” We were together all the time, more so since the pandemic. I found him to be great company, and he said the same for me. It feels like it’s the closing of a major chapter of my life. Red provided love, structure, grounding, and a whole lot of fun. We really were best friends, companions, comrades…FAMILY.
This chapter has closed, and the next chapter has not opened. I know the pain will lessen, but I think it will take a very long time for the deep ache to dissipate.
As for Muttville, I think they are true heroes and heroines. They do not give up on any dog despite whatever is going on. I have been a once a month Mutt Guardian donor to this extraordinary
organization since Red and I found each other six and a half years ago. I will continue on with Muttville for ever and ever.
Pam
11/18/20
Are you the proud parent of a Muttville dog? Send us your story! Include three of your favorite photos and send it to success_stories@muttville.org with the subject line 'Success Story'.
