Shadow's Story

Shadow (Charlie) is a 10.5 year old male who has been in rescue over a year now. He's a sweet old gentleman. He has been living with his foster family in Port Lavaca down on the Gulf. When his foster family had to evacuate due to Harvey, Shadow (they call him Charlie) evacuated along with them and their kids and other Ridgeback. They have taken good and loving care of him. Of course, we all hoped he would get adopted, and there were several times where it almost happened. The last time there was a lady in NM who wanted him and we were arranging transportation, etc. The fosters were willing to take him part of the way. At the last minute, she changed her mind. No one ever followed through to adopt him. Just a couple of days ago another coordinator contacted me to see if he might be a good fit for one of her apps, but then she decided that he was probably too old. Poor old Charlie.. Yesterday the foster mom asked me if she could take him to the vet because he had a small growth on his gum by his lower canine. So I set the visit up with the rescue vet we use there. The vet called me in the afternoon to say that it's a very aggressive cancer. It can't be removed without removing a large part of the jaw as well. He said he could remove the lump and freeze it in a couple of spots but that wouldn't last either. At Charlie's age, we determined it would be best to just let him live yet as long and as comfortably as possible and then put him down when the time comes. The vet said he would convey that to the foster. This morning when I called the vet to pay the bill for Charlie, they said the foster had paid it yesterday. Hmmm...... Then the foster and her husband contacted me to say that they would like to officially adopt Charlie so that he can truly belong to their family for the rest of his days, and that they wish to provide everything for him up to and including his last moments of being PTS. Poor old Charlie isn't really so poor anymore. He has a family all his own now who will love him to the very end.