Cleveland, OH
Secondhand Mutts is proud to save dogs of all ages, sizes, breeds. There’s just a little something extra about saving a senior dog. Any dog we can save we are proud to have helped but there’s something about seniors…we don’t know where they’ve come from or what kind of life they’ve had but we want to be sure their final days/years are the best ones possible.
In walks volunteer Dave Derby about 5 or so years ago. Chaperoned for us, walked dogs…a sweet, patient, kind man. One day, Leah who had beloved Secondhand Mutt Bunny, who was about 9 years old at the time in her office (and had fostered her at home) took the plunge and asked Dave if he’d be interested in fostering (he already knew/liked Bunny) and he did. A few weeks after that we posed the question of whether or not he’d like to adopt. Because their “nap schedules were the same” (and he loved her madly!) Dave became Bunny’s new family: that was just over four years ago.
Dave took Bunny through therapy dog training where she became certified through Therapy Dogs International (TDI) and soon after he started a life of semi-retirement. Dave outfitted a van and traveled around the country: working remotely and keeping us all up to date and where he and Bunny were and man did they get around! Bunny had a life: a great life! She loved her adventures, her downtime in the van and riding shotgun with Dave no matter where the road took them.
We’ve stayed in touch with Dave and were lucky to tag along through his photographs on their many adventures. Here are just a few of our favorites:
We were sad to hear that Bunny passed away suddenly late last week. Below is Dave’s Facebook post and a whole bunch of photos of Bunny out on Adventure. Love and peace to our Bunny and our friend Dave.
From Dave:
“Bunny goes to heaven. She passed last night after getting Stomach Dilatation. (twisted stomach/bloat). She was my best friend for four years. My travel buddy. My ambassador. My therapist. My alarm. My protector. My napping buddy. My keep-my-pillow-warm-while-I’m-gone dog. We traveled everywhere together, making new human and dog friends along the way. As a therapy dog, she shared her love (magic) with hospice patients, school children, college kids and anyone she ran into that just needed a little bit of kindness.
Thank you Leah at Secondhand Mutts for bringing us together. Matchmakers you are.
PS: Bunny was donated to research/science so she will continue to help people and dogs alike.
Peace my girl.”
Thank you Dave for giving Bunny the best life a dog could know.
Respect the dog.
