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    • Dog is man’s (or woman’s) best friend. Too often we are not.
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    Dog is man’s (or woman’s) best friend. Too often we are not.

    Vaseline Posted on

    Rocky was one of those dogs that was returned to someone who would love him. I will never understand why someone would give him up. But it was their loss.

    Olympia Duhart
    | Opinion Contributor

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    Most dogs run wild in the “bark park.” Even the most docile puppies exhaust their primal instincts and exhaust themselves when they meet furry friends in an open, safe, green space.

    But not Rocky.

    When we took him to the neighborhood dog park, our toy poodle walked the entire path. He was happy, but he took his steps cautiously on the sidewalk. My daughter, a teenager at the time, joked that Rocky looked like he was walking to the nearest Starbucks to get a latte and a newspaper. He was dignified and determined. Nearly two decades later, that dignity and determination would mark his death.

    Last February, at 18 years old, Rocky went to paradise. Like millions of people, I loved and lost a dear family member. Losing Rocky was incredibly difficult, but having him in our lives changed all of us.

    But not everyone understands how important it is to care for a pet once the novelty of owning an animal wears off.

    Dog is man’s (or woman’s) best friend. But too often we are not.

    Monday is National Dog Day, a reminder of the rewards and challenges of caring for dogs, which come with great rewards and serious responsibilities.

    Nearly 87 million households—66 percent of U.S. households—own pets, and 65.1 million U.S. households own a dog. Yet, 3.1 million companion dogs enter community shelters each year—and many of those animals are “surrendered” or abandoned.

    Rocky was one of those dogs that was returned to someone who would love him. I will never understand why someone would give him up. But it was their loss.

    When he was eight months old, we brought Rocky home after he had been thrown out and injured. Rocky was afraid of anything that resembled a stick. We were extra careful when sweeping, mopping, or even wrapping presents with a long roll of wrapping paper. Major responsibilities, but with huge rewards. As I soon discovered, the poodle was a favorite breed for a reason: Rocky was smart, cute, curious, and affectionate. We could keep him safe.

    When my son was diagnosed with autism, he was nervous about being around dogs because they could be unpredictable, noisy, and messy. But Rocky’s reserved, attentive nature made it easy for everyone to bond with him.

    From a mother who is in the military: My son has autism. Schools misunderstand him. I fear the police will too.

    Rocky was a calming presence who helped people feel more connected.

    As I struggled with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rocky was the constant balm I needed. He was always available for a “kiss” hug. This helped me feel better; dogs can lower blood pressure and improve people’s moods.

    It’s no wonder they have become the ‘heroes’ of the pandemic.

    Older dogs are at extra risk of being abandoned

    The greatest gift Rocky gave us came at the end of his life. Like many older dogs, Rocky had shown signs of physical and mental decline in his last years. He was deaf, nearly blind, a cancer patient, and weakened by a stroke. But he was still determined and dignified.

    It was really our turn to take the responsibility of taking care of him. I felt a new, deeper love for my little companion who needed us more than ever.

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    Older companion animals face significant risks. According to one study, “the likelihood that a dog or cat will be adopted decreases significantly as the animal ages, due to high kennel competition with animals that have more ‘desirable’ characteristics. Additionally, older animals are more likely to be returned after adoption. The result of these factors is that older cats and dogs are among those at greatest risk of euthanasia in shelters.”

    The people who gave Rocky up almost 20 years ago lost the opportunity to experience the incredible gift of offering unconditional love to another living being. Through Rocky, I was able to see the direct impact of the care I provided. In real time, that meant ushering him out the back door, pretending to put herbs in his prescription dog food, and carrying him to bed when he was too tired to get up from his tiny couch.

    I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to take on these responsibilities.

    Olympia Duhart is associate dean for academic affairs and strategic initiatives and professor of law at the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University.

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