With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of alum Nelson. Adopted just over a year ago, his rescue journey was truly remarkable.
Found as a stray senior, Nelson was blind and deaf. Despite what he endured, he was trusting, affectionate and playful. When it came time for him to be adopted, we weren’t quite sure how long it would take, given his age and special needs. To our delight, we didn’t have to wait long because he received the perfect application almost immediately. His mom knew he was ‘the one’ upon first glance.
Nelson lived a full life with a big family, including many furry and scaly siblings. Having a mom who works as a dog walker meant that Nelson made many friends and remained active. The faint smells of urine on his head were not uncommon, indicating that one of his pack friends had ‘marked’ him. And while Nelson was surrounded by all those who loved him, he had a special place in his heart for his mom and sister Prim. Nelson could smell his mom from a distance, and while she claims it was a scent she earned from walking dogs all day, to Nelson, it equated to unconditional love and indicated his favourite human was nearby.
Nelson was in his element in warm weather and would sunbathe for as long as possible. Rain was his nemesis; if he caught any hint of it, he’d turn right around and head for a comfy bed or blanket. His persistence was admirable, and he knew how to coax treats from all the humans. He even had a special bark that meant business (more specifically, to fill his KONG with treats and hand it over promptly).
His mom says, “We didn’t have as long as I had hoped for, but I tried to make sure a year’s worth of love undid all that he had been through previously…He wasn’t always easy to take care of, but he was worth every minute.”
Thank you to Nelson’s mom for providing him with exceptional care and giving this deserving senior the best golden years. Run free, Nelson. We will always remember your beautiful silver face.
