Couple Beth and Michael Clark are the kind of animal heroes that donate blankets to shelters in the winter to help provide some comfort and warmth to those dogs without a family of their own.
But after a trip to Anne Arundel County Animal Control in December 2015, to donate blankets and supplies they came home with something extra.
The couple made eye contact with a sad-looking 17-year-old dog called Rocky and couldn’t leave him.
“I saw this gray-faced, skinny dog and I said to my husband, ‘We’re getting him,’” Beth told Today. “I was not about to leave that old man to die in a cage.”
“I saw this gray-faced, skinny dog and I said to my husband, ‘We’re getting him,’” Beth told Today. “I was not about to leave that old man to die in a cage.”
Rocky made our life very complete,” Beth told TODAY.
“He loved dancing with us and being near us … as the year went on, it got harder for him to climb the stairs and go on walks, so my husband would carry him up the stairs every night just so he could sleep next to us, and instead of walks we just sat outside in the sun together.”
Special families opening their hearts to senior dogs
Robin Catlett, an administrator at Anne Arundel County Animal Control, said that more families are considering adopting a senior dog.
“It takes a special family to open their heart and home to an animal that they may only get to have in their lives for a short period of time,” said Robin. “We do our best to make the animals as comfortable as possible in our care, however we know this can never replace a forever home.”
When Beth found out she was pregnant she was overjoyed and told Today the bigger she got the more gentle Rocky was with her. He was a huge support system for the Maryland mom-to-be.
Rocky’s health started to fail
The couple even announced their pregnancy with a picture of a Rocky and a sign above which read, “Mom and Dad are getting me a human!”
But when Beth was 7 months pregnant Rocky’s health started to fail and they were told their sweet senior dog may have a tumor.
The day Beth and Michael brought their new baby girl home, Rocky sniffed her and put his head near hers but his health was failing and the couple knew it was time to let their precious hound go.
“I called a vet and that night, he went peacefully with his family by him,” Beth told Today. “We loved him more than words can describe and we still have a very hard time adjusting to him not being here.”
The Clarks believe that Rocky held on to meet his new human sister.