Pat wrote her story and entered it into to Petco Love’s Love Story competition. She won, and Muttville was awarded a $10,000 grant!
As Baby Boomers, we were looking forward to an active retirement. But, life surprised us with an unexpected twist that took us down a different path. In his early 60’s, my husband Mike started experiencing short term memory loss and found it difficult to process information. He was eventually diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, an incurable, degenerative disease that slowly takes away not only memories, but cognitive and even physical abilities. Everyone’s journey with Alzheimer’s is different, but generally it is a disease of loss, while leaving intact the person’s emotions and needs for love and respect.
We decided to fight back and do what we could to slow down the disease, participating in a pharmaceutical trial and then a lifestyle study. Miraculously the disease has taken a slower than expected trajectory over the past 7 years. During this timeframe, as we adapted and
learned to live with the disease, we wondered if there was room in our lives for a dog. In this journey of loss, would a dog bring us gains?
Encouraged by the Seniors for Seniors program offered by Muttville, a Senior Dog Rescue in
San Francisco, we decided to adopt a senior girl. We call her Maya. Oh my has she brought us gains!
Mike was never one to head out on a walk, instead using a stationary bike for exercise. But, since Maya came into our lives, he enjoys walking the neighborhood with her. No longer able to drive, their walks provide a wonderful experience of independence plus exercise and fresh
air for him and sniffing time for her. It’s a win-win for both of them. Sometimes in the evening, Maya puts on the brakes and won’t go unless I go, which forces me to take time to enjoy the outdoors with them. Thank you Maya!
We usually watch TV together in the evenings. Now TV time is not just passive, but a time for pets and Maya snuggles on the couch.
Mornings are her wild time! Mike usually gets up first, goes and sits on the couch in the living room watching a morning show. Maya waits for me to get up. Then, once I am up, she runs down the hall and onto the couch in the living room where she gets her first pets of the day
from Mike, before heading to the back door. It’s a great way for them to start the day!
Maya’s presence in our lives has brought many gains. She brings lots of joy and unconditional love, as well as a renewed sense of independence for Mike.
Maya was rescued from the street with no history, no back story. While we will never know her past, we do know that her present and future are full of love, walks, snuggles and treats. Over time, Alzheimer’s Disease will take away Mike’s memories, his back story. But, even without a past, he can enjoy the present with love and snuggles from our special senior girl, Maya.
2/16/24
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'.
