In March of this year I found this website after our dog Max had passed. I shared the story of his life and his passing and eventually told the tale of our New Old dog, Moses. Moses came from a program in Baltimore MD called Recycled Love. He was either found on the streets or was taken to the Baltimore City Animal Rescue where life looked bleek. Moses was at least 15 years old and was blind in one eye and deaf, he eventually went totally blind. Sally who is the founder of Recycled Love (a program that removes animals from high kill shelters and places them in permanent or foster homes, especially older animals) fell in love with this sweet and gentle creature and removed him hours before he was scheduled to be euthanized. So much synchronicity lead us to finding Moses. I beleive with all of my heart that Max brought us together. He knew we both needed each other. Our family lives in Harrisburg Pa and Moses was in Baltimore MD. We found his information via petfinder.com. (Moses actually end up becoming the Recyceld Love mascot as he embodied the true meaning of the organization so beautifully).

I instantly fell in love with this beautiful boy. When I first held him, his small body lay across my heart and I could feel the pain and sadness from loosing Max start to melt away. We felt connected. Moses was a small terrier mix as was Max. Although Moses was blind and deaf, he accepted his life as if nothing were out of the ordinairy. His tail wagged all the time and never growled or acted aggressive. In many ways his sweet disposition reminded me of and older Tibetan monk that I had the privelege of getting to know when they made a sand madala at a Buddhist Center in our area. He was pure love every second he was with us. We were blessed to have been his forever home. I grew so much as a person from being able to care for him and observe his peaceful and accepting life. He taught me to slow down and just Be...to be in the flow of Life.

Yesterday I had the privelege of spending the day with him while he prepared to become pure spirit. His health had been deteriorating for a few weeks possibly due to a stroke. On Friday he ate his last meal and took his last drink on Monday. I continued to get his speacial diet ready and tried to hand feed him and give him water from a spoon. By Monday night I knew I had to respectfully honor his wishes to not receive any more nourisment for his physical body. I wrapped him in my shirt as he relied on his sense of smell heavilly and I thought it might comfort him. I sat with him in the sun and held him in the full moon light on Monday. I still continued to give him water to wet his mouth from a Q-tip. I took the day off work and we spent all of Tuesday together and although Moses slept most of the time, I know he appreciated our closeness as much as I did. He fell asleep on my chest as we lay in the Fall sun and about an hour later he took his last breath. He was so peaceful as he his spirit left his feeble little body. I feel blessed beyond belief to have shared that moment with him.

Although I am heartbroken to have lost my sweet boy, I feel honored to have been his mommy. It felt connecting and spiritual to watch him accept his death so gracefully. Several people had commented on having him put to sleep earlier in the month however I didn't feel it was my place to interfere with the natural dying process. The vet told me what to look for as signs of pain or discomfort as his health got worse and while he was passing, he never had one. People don't often take the time to see the beauty and value in something old and dying. Moses was my teacher everyday and especially in his passing. He looked worn out and old but I could see the beauty in his spirit and he was LOVE.

I have no doubt that my sweet boy will lead me to another pet who needs a home. There is definetly something to be said for adopting an older animal. Yes the loss is heartbreaking but the feeling of helping another soul in their twilight years and to pass comfortably and peacefully is one I will never regret. My sadness at missing him is nothing compared to the joy of having had him in my life.

I Love you Mr. Moe....I miss your physical presence but you live always in my heart.

What a beautiful story. You must have a huge heart to take in what society has labeled a "discarded" animal and make him a part of your family. Moses was indeed fortunate to find you, and you were lucky to find him as well. Out there, somewhere, is another "Lucky Dog" just waiting for you to rescue him so he can enrich your life, just as Moses did. Bless you.

Moe was lucky you found him.

You are a very special lady.

That was so beautiful, if bittersweet. How lucky Moses was to find you to share his life as a senior!! You clearly were his guardian angel. I have had the privilege to witness the natural deaths at home of my three dogs Howie, Penny and Rudy. It isn't really easy, but it also isn't a terrible process. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Gina

What a beautiful, inspirational story! Thank you so much for sharing it. My heart goes out to you at this difficult time because I can tell how much you and Moe love each other. You are both so blessed to have been able to share part of your lives in such a wonderfully meaningful way!

You are such a tremedously loving person to have given Moe a comfortable, happy home even though you knew you would have to let him go before long, and that the separation would be painful. And Moe is such a loving friend to have taught you so many important lessons about life! And now, since you've shared his story, we're all benefiting from his wisdom!

Thank you and bless you both,
Eliza

Thank you so much for sharing your story and what a wonderful brave thing you did in taking in an old animal.
My beautiful silver girl Nymph died on Sept. 23rd with me by her side. Even though it wasn't easy seeing her go through the dying process and even though I dozed off when she took her last breath. The final hours were quite peaceful. For about 2 weeks before I watched her have good days and bad days and do things that completely surprised me, she insisted on going out with me, which was bizarre as she had never before wanted to be outside, but when I took her out on the leash she lay peacefully on my lap as I sat in the grass and then leapt off and chased a butterfly. Another time the cat who never touched human food came over and ate salmon off my plate---I too felt priveledged to have shared her last days with her - there so much love between us and I realized how fortunate I was to have shared 18 wonderful years with her and to at least be by her side when she passed.

You have writen a wonderful tribute to Moe and I thank you because it has also enabled me to look a little past the heartache of Nymph's passing.

I have had her cremated and will pick up her ashes tomorrow and scatter them on Nov. 2-all souls day. I hope her spirit smiles at the tribute to the love and soul connection we will always share.

What a magnificent story of love and kindess and true giving. I am humbled by your eloquent and hauntingly beautiful description of the process by which gentle, beautiful Moses left this physical Earth. I pray for your strength and sense of peace as I face the passing of my most precious soul Freddy.

Thank you to all for your kind words about the passing of Moses. It was healing for me to write and it is nice to know that our experience was appreciated by others. I shared his passing with the organization where he came from and they have asked me to be a speaker for an event in Baltimore that would honor Moses and enlighten pet owners on animal hospice. While I am somewhat fearful of public speaking I am not going to let that get in the way of sharing this beautiful creatures story in hopes of giving strength to other pet lovers going through the same with and older animal. I believe that many pet owners feel grief and guilt over making the decision to put an elderly animal to sleep. I am not opposed to euthanizing a pet when they are suffering as I believe that is the most compassionate option but if it is possible to support your pet through his final stage on earth until he passes, it is very worth it. My heart goes out to all who have lost a beloved pet as I truly know your pain....I send healing thoughts and Love to us all.

We are truly blessed by the pets in our lives. Let us honor them by giving our love to another in need be it adopting an unwanted pet or volunteering our time at a local rescue or shelter. www.petfinder.com has lots of options.
peace and blessings
angela