I sent this letter to Lenawee Humane Society. It is about a very special dog, who never thought he was one!
To the wonderful people of Lenawee Humane Society
My name is Linda Tobin, and I would like to thank you for letting me adopt one of the best dogs a person could have. On March 26, 2008, I adopted Toby from you. Toby was literally one of my best friends and he made lots of friends throughout his life, everybody, loved Toby!
I would like to share a little with you about the amazing dog that I adopted.
When I seen a litter of puppies you had available, I believe on Petfinder, I feel in love with two of them. I prefer black or darker dogs, so I really liked Toby’s brother. I called to see if you could hold them for me, since I lived over two hours away. The lady that I spoke with said that she would only hold one, and recommended “holding” the golden, because they go faster. I was panicking as I was driving, thinking, “I know someone is going to take that cute black puppy!” I finally arrived and thanked God that the black puppy was still available too! I was put into the meet the puppy room with both. I thought that black puppy was adorable! His brother was cute too, but like I said, I like black dogs. My adorable black puppy was smelling the walls, the desk, the worker who was in the room with us, everywhere but me! The golden puppy, Toby, was all about me! On my lap, jumping up and licking my face and never left my lap! The decision was made….Toby adopted me!
Toby came home to a “brother” Trouble, that loved him! And Toby followed him everywhere!
Toby’s first night home there was what could only be called a “mud fight”! My golden puppy came into the house a brown mess! Covered from head to tail in mud! And that night Toby had his first bath!
Sadly, Trouble had to go to doggie heaven when Toby was four, he had severe hip dysplasia and after years of medication, it was finally his time. Both Toby and I missed him horribly!
Toby’s life was an adventure! He went with me as often as he could. Toby didn’t just walk, he “pranced”, he was always happy! Sometimes I think he didn’t know that he was a dog and really thought that he was a human! If he was in the front seat of the car with me, chances are his paw was on the armrest! He loved dancing with me, I’m pretty sure his favorite song was “Who Let the Dogs Out”. He attended many family functions with me, they just expected him to be there! Toby didn’t fetch the ball, he had to throw it back to you. A few years ago on his birthday, we were at the dog store picking out his present, he found a new ball, and proceeded to throw it all over the store! He had the employees of the store all playing catch with him! I don’t know who had more fun, the employees or Toby!
Toby had “work”. He put things in the garbage for me, helped me pick up sticks in the yard (yes, sometimes I had to chase him!), I think his favorite “job” was getting the newspaper for me on Sunday! He was so happy running down the drive to get it!
Toby did some pretty special things in his life too. We were at Partridge Creek (a shopping center that allows dogs), and a little girl in a wheel chair asked to pet him. This was the first time I had had all of the dogs (Toby does have a brother Rico, and sister Lexi, at home now) at the shopping center together, and none of them had ever seen a wheel chair before. I was explaining that I didn’t think it would be a good idea, and while I was talking, I realized that Toby had stood up on his hind legs very slowly, without touching anything and started hugging and kissing the little girl, who had used to armrests of the wheelchair to kind of stand herself up! Both the mother and me started crying, it was awesome!
Last summer, Toby made a new friend, a little boy who lived a few blocks away (I work with his mom), named Hunter. Hunter had been having some issues at school, so I “hired” him to do work for me. Toby and Hunter immediately bonded and became best friends! They shared many great times together and many, many hugs! Hunter has told me that Toby was his best friend! They even entered in the Richmond fair dog show and Toby won the prize for “Best Personality”!
On February 25, Toby jumped out of the back of my truck, I wasn’t watching, it was something he had done a million times before. He somehow had hurt his spine and couldn’t walk properly. We went to the vet and he had to have emergency spinal surgery. Even at nine years old, Toby was still very young and very agile, I had just been thinking that he would live to be 20! The doctors gave Toby an excellent chance of being a healthy, active dog again if he had the surgery, so Toby had spine surgery. He did so well after the surgery that they released him two days before he was scheduled.
On March 2, I noticed that Toby wasn’t right. Very inactive, wasn’t eating or drinking and unsocial, back to the vet we went. I thought he just needed medicine or something. I was wrong…….Toby was having “septic” kidney failure and within less than two hours was gone! I was holding him as he went, I had told him I would never leave him, and I meant it!
Toby brought happiness to so many people, and was truly a special creature of God. I thought that you may have wanted to know how one of your adoptions changed the lives of many people.
I don’t know that I am ready, just yet, to bring another beautiful golden puppy into my life, but keep me in mind. I thought what better place to start looking for my new best friend, might be the same place that Toby, my beautiful boy, came from. I told Toby that day, until we meet again. I never said goodbye.
Again, thank you for the privilege of having Toby in my life.
Update: On April 27,2017, I seen an adorable black puppy on Petfinder, who was at Lenawee Humane Society, Toby's place of adoption. They held him for me as I again made the two hour drive. In the meet the puppy room as I knelt down to him, he jumped up and gave me a hug! I knew it was a sign! Jessie, came home with me!