Harry dog is 15 years old this weekend!

[undeterred]

He was around 35 pounds and 5-6 months old when I adopted him from the dog pound on the South side of Chicago April 1983 so I picked Oct 1 as his birthday. They were going to sacrifice him, so I adopted him. I later figured out that he looks like a leonberger mix.

He has survived a cancerous tumor on his right front leg- cured using IL-2 at the University of Wisconsin Vet School 1999-2000. He has survived "bloat" in 2005 and in 2006, when he had major surgery. He is deaf and arthritic, but other than that, he is fine...

This is what he looked like as a pup (not him):


As an adult:


:party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party:

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Happy Birthday Harry... What a HANDSOME boy!!!

You two were so very lucky to have found each other......:grouphug:
Unconditional love is cause to celebrate.

[undeterred]

3. thanks

he's the best, and I can't believe he's still with me

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Must be all that TLC you give him

:hi:

[Roon]

2. Aww, kisses for Harry!

He looks like a wonderful pup!

[livetohike]

4. Happy Birthday Harry! He's beautiful

he looks alot like my old dog Smokey (but he was more smoke colored). I never could figure out breeds Smokey was, but the mother was a stray German Shepherd that gave birth to a litter of six in a large log on our property years ago.

May you have many more years of happiness together :-).

[zonkers]

6. Right on. Harry. Party on.

[undeterred]

12. ...

:hi: :party: :toast:

[VLC]

7. He looks huge now, how much does he weigh?

And Happy Birthday, Harry!

I picked a birthday for my little girl, too. She's a gemini ;-)

[undeterred]

8. mostly fur

Now he is under 70 because he has thyroid disease and it caused some weight and fur loss. But that's better for the arthritis.

Its fun to celebrate their birthdays- we'll have a picnic with dog treats! :party:

[riverdeep]

9. Beautiful dog. Tell him happy birthday.

We had a cat that lived to 16. Most of my life at that point. I came home one day and found he died. I asked where dad was. Mom said in the shed, he went there to cry. I'd never seen him cry before, or since.

It's amazing how much they bring.

[undeterred]

11. Aww

He almost died a year ago. Disappeared and I found him in the corner of the basement behind the Christmas decorations. They really do go off to die when they are very sick. He was in great pain and I recognized the symptoms of bloat. I called the emergency vet. I picked him up and took him over and they saved his life. It was worth a try even at 14, and now we've had another whole year together. Now he is sleeping on the couch.

[riverdeep]

13. I wonder if they go off like that

because in the wild, it's a way to control your own fate. You get to choose, instead of being taken down by a predator. And for dogs, maybe a way to give the pack a break.

Anyway, enough talk about all that, he's here, and enjoy him! Give em a scritch under the chin.

[undeterred]

14. At the time

I didn't even know he knew there was a basement. He's never been down there, because there's stairs and he has arthritis. But he knew, and he went off alone. But he didn't resist me when I came to get him. I guess he just felt like it was his time, and didn't know about the wonders of modern emergency medicine. Since we have a Vet School at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, we have some exceptional vets working in town.

He will get lots of love and a picnic in the woods! He seems unaware of his age and still wants to go out to the park and meet other dogs so we'll do that too.

[SallyMander]

10. Happy Birthday Harry!

This is my dog's favorite b-day treat:

[xchrom]

15. for the very wonderful Harry...

Dear God, you have given us care over all living things; protect and bless the animals who give us companionship and delight, make us their true friends and worthy companions. Amen.



Dear God, protect and bless all beings that breathe, keep all evil from them, and let them sleep in peace. Amen.
--Albert Schweitzer, "Memoirs of Childhood and Youth"


Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.
--Franciscan prayer


Harry, may you be blessed in the name of the Holy One who created you, and may you and undeterred enjoy life together and care for one another in peace.

[flvegan]

16. Beautiful! Is he a Belgian Tervuren (sp?)?

Sure has the looks of one. Handsome boy.

[undeterred]

17. Leonberger mix

[applegrove]

18. Gorgeous Dog!