Though he was deeply loved, unfortunetly a family tragedy resulted in his once again having to come home to me. A couple of months later, Dino was once more adopted. However, due to his strong herding instinct, he began despite many attempts to deter him, to chase his owners horses, causing her to fear he would wind up injured. He had already been kicked more then once, and rather then see him seriously hurt..he was placed with a family in a small town here in Saskatchewan, with my sanction.
This family seemed to really love him, and often spoke on phone with me stating what a wonderful, gentle and intelligent dog he was. Time passed, and life went on. After about a year, having not heard from Dino's new family, I decided to phone and see how my "golden boy" was doing. But before I could make the call, something came up that for a couple of days distracted me. Then I recieved a phone call from someone who told me my boy was in a 'bad' way.
The "family" who told me how much they loved the big dog had given him away, almost nine months earlier! I was astounded, as I had spoken to them several times the first year they had him, and had told them if anything were to occur, and they could not keep him, he was to be returned to me. Instead, they handed him off to strangers, telling me when I contacted them following the phone message that Dino was in a 'bad' way, that they had "lost" my phone number!!
The people he had been given too, lost their home and could no longer keep him, though they had tried their best to 'help' Dino.
The lady who contacted me had discovered I was his breeder by making a couple of phone calls.
Dino was in DREADFUL shape. Though the people who had him last tried to take weight off him, and had succeeded to some degree, he was still horribly OBESE and nearly crippled with Arthritis. Of course, I said he was to come HOME to me. Though I had been told he was not in good shape, I was still shocked when I saw the poor fellow.
Dino 'remembered' me instantly, he remembered his beautiful sister as well. I made up my mind that very moment..Dino would never be placed again, he would remain with me for the rest of his life. Though he was only seven and a half years old, he looked and moved like he was twice that age. Below are some pics of him when he first came
home, in late August 2003.
The Ramp he is on I had built upon his return, as he was not able to climb steps.
Both pics of Dino holding his foot up is him doing an old trick I taught him as a small puppy. This is Dino "doing LASSIE".
I have placed adult dogs before, that are not being used for breeding. Always they have gone to wonderful homes and have been fixed. Poor Dino is (thank GOD) the only one who was not so lucky.
Read his tribute on my MEMORY of Past Loves page.