Parting is always a difficult affair, particularly when it’s your closest companion you’re bidding farewell.
The situation grows heavier when that final farewell signifies you won’t ever get to see your beloved friend again.
Crossing the rainbow bridge is a moment every dog owner dreads.
Honestly, I’m not sure what terrifies me more: the actual moment of crossing or the nagging worry in the back of my mind, knowing that day would inevitably come.
When Kate Schakols brought Rooster, a senior dog from Texas, into her life, she understood that their time together was limited.
Rooster was a senior dog, well advanced in years, facing serious health issues.
So, what motivated a young woman to adopt such an elderly, ill dog?
To provide him with the best final days he truly deserved, that’s why!
It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times
Old.
Rejected.
Sick.
Hopeless.
Tired of life.
That was Rooster – a 10- to 12-year-old chocolate Labrador discovered in the Gulf Coast STARS shelter in Brazoria County, Texas.
Yet, Rooster was also loved, cherished, and rescued, all thanks to Katie Schakols and her family.
“I fell in love with him,” Katie shared with PEOPLE magazine. “He was one of the most beautiful dogs I’ve ever known, both inside and out.”
Katie looked beyond Rooster’s many health challenges: cataracts that caused blindness in his left eye, worn-out elbow pads, missing teeth from scrounging for food, lumps and bumps, heartworm, and more.
“The bond I formed with Rooster was extraordinary,” Katie reflects. “I had never experienced such a deep connection, and it was clear he chose me as his human.”
In that moment, an everlasting bond was forged. Knowing their days were numbered, Katie and Rooster made the most of the time they had left.
When Rooster entered Katie’s loving home, he was met by a younger furry sibling, Bailey. The poor senior dog was enveloped in affection, overwhelmed by the joy he had never known.
A dog who once scavenged and munched on dirt was suddenly enjoying real dog food and experiencing the softness of grass beneath his paws. Everything in Rooster’s life felt sweet. Everything was… wonderful.
However, all good things must eventually conclude.
Katie was aware that Rooster’s time was limited. Yet, the way he departed struck Katie hard, as if her heart was torn from her.
On the 28th day of Rooster’s newly sweetened life with Katie, an unforeseen event occurred. It’s a scenario we often don’t anticipate, yet many dogs fall victim to it each year.
Bloat, medically known as gastric dilatation-volvulus, suddenly struck Rooster. His stomach filled with air and began to twist. Rooster was in excruciating pain.
There was no option to save this brave soul.
“It was time for us to say goodbye. I know my mom is sad, but I wish she realized these were the best 28 days of my life,” Katie shared in a video she posted on her TikTok.
Bloat may be treatable in some circumstances, but around 30% of dogs who suffer from it end up being put to sleep. Unfortunately, Rooster fell into that category. Time ran out for him to undergo a gastropexy—an operation preventing GDV. |1|
The veterinarian’s hands were tied.
Due to health protocols, Katie couldn’t be present for Rooster’s final moments. They took him away to a room where he felt no more pain and could gaze upon the rainbow.
“She leaned in and told me she’d always love me and was so sorry she couldn’t save me,” Rooster stated in the video.
Dear Katie… you should understand you DID save Rooster. Your time together may have been short, but you provided him with love like he had never experienced before. You taught him what it meant to be cherished and to belong somewhere.
Our time on Earth is fleeting, and we can never predict when it will end. That’s why we must maximize our time. Let’s perform kind acts! Let’s assist those in need! Let’s rescue dogs from shelters and offer them the lives they deserve!
Let’s follow Katie’s example. This young woman was unfazed by the fact that Rooster wouldn’t be with her for many years. What mattered to her was saving him and demonstrating that life can indeed be beautiful.
Senior dogs fill shelters across the nation, and very few people are interested in adopting them. A rescued senior will adore you endlessly if you give them a chance. They simply need a warm home and a safe lap to curl up in as they heal from the hardships of their past.
References:
Jerold S. Bell, DVM. Risk Factors for Canine Bloat. 2003. DOI
