Old dogs really are the best dogs. And it just takes one person to make a difference for them. Or in this case, a team of one persons. Our beloved Taz has a whole story from before I stumbled upon him, of course – and he has two sisters still waiting – Thelma and Louise. This is the story of my time with Taz. I started doing a weekly dog running program on Saturday mornings in early 2018, which resulted in #StanleyGoingtoWashington, Steve getting adopted in Rhode Island, Teddy and Courtney both coming to live with me, Serenity getting added to my list of dogs to get some attention, Teddy’s brothers Domino and Dancer getting regular outings, and me finding the sweetest: Taz. Taz’s kennel was near Domino, Dancer and Courtney so I saw him all the time. Unlike many of the other dogs in the shelter, Taz didn’t rush his kennel gate or bark for attention, which is of course what drew me to him. He had one floppy ear and eyes that said hello.

I added Taz to my weekly visits and took him outside to the play yard where I discovered the very softest of fur and began to learn some of his personality, which turned out to be friendly and kind and hesitant but wanting to be with friends. After a few weeks of taking him out I gave him a red leather collar that he wore until today. At first he didn’t want much to do with me. He was happy to be outside, but he didn’t take treats from my hand so I left them for him in a spot he could get on his own. Slowly he started to take them from me and looked forward to seeing me. I shared pictures and a friend took an interest in his wellbeing from afar. He was on his way to something good. And then summer turned to fall and with the cold his old man arthritis took hold. He hung out and napped with adopted ARFer’s like Tank. We got him out of the shelter and safely taken in as the office dog at Dog Day Afternoon where he found love and a new way of life as part of a home. Becoming the office dog changed his life and I will forever be grateful to them. Taz even found a girlfriend. He got regular physical therapy (where he was a favorite), walked in the pool, ate his turkey, and had a renewed vigor and happiness with life. He was doing great. He had a friend named Kenny who played with him every day. Taz was definitely a happy dog.

And then today, what seems to be a tumor likely led to a ruptured spleen, and he was having a hard time with everything. Three of us gathered to love on him and called the kindest of vets who confirmed he was at his end. In his last 48 hours he enjoyed chicken from his foster mom who gave him all the love with his favorite treats, he supervised the set up of kennels that will house other shelter dogs on their transitions to adoption (which I believe is Taz’s legacy), he enjoyed laying in the sun, and he was told just how much he was loved. And he was. This shelter dog had a whole team of people invested in his well-being and so for his last days he had joy. There is now a Taz sized hole in not only my heart, but in the hearts of those who also loved him.

My dogs don’t go without a proper good-bye, and while he wasn’t officially mine, I loved him like he was. He was known as Taz Man, Raz-a-my-Taz, Tazmania, Tazerboo, Tazerbijan, Sir Pees A Lot, homie, big boy, sweet friend, good boy, old man (and sometimes dirty old man because he was known to deliver a friendly nip on the butt to remind his person of the chicken he deserved). Rest in Peace Sweet Taz. You are a very good boy and you are loved. The sun came out today as he passed.