Johnny

On November 21, 2006 a big, beautiful ten year old golden foster dog named Johnny walked into our lives and into our hearts.

 He was a large golden with the biggest paws I’d ever seen!  He had really curly blonde hair and reminded me of the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz.  He even had the goofy walk just like the lion!  He came right before Thanksgiving, made himself right at home and began his campaign to stay with us permanently.  So on December 29th, we made the decision to adopt him.  Johnny had various medical issues beginning with kidney problems but we were committed to helping him through his “senior” years and making his life as comfortable as we could. 

Johnny immediately made friends with his new brother Luke and let him know that he was now the senior member of the household, so just deal with it.  Johnny would lie on the floor and an earthquake would not move him if he didn’t want to get up.  When he was done walking, he sat down and refused to move unless you headed home.  Johnny loved to lay at the top steps of the deck and watch Luke chase his Kong.  He showed very little interest in toys but would hit a ball back to me with his nose if I sat on the floor with him.  As long as it didn’t involve exercise, he was good with it!   He was however, a shoe thief and taught Luke a very bad (but cute) habit of taking shoes.  He would greet us at the door, grab a shoe and walk around very proud with it!  We had special “Johnny shoes” just for him! 

Unlike most golden’s, Johnny didn’t care for the water much—he would spent time taking ducks out of a kiddy pool and pile up in our back yard.  He’d get them to the side with his paw, pick up with his mouth, wander down the deck stairs, drop in the yard and come back and do it over and over again!  It was hysterical to watch him!  At the beginning of August, 2007 we took him, Luke and Sadie (a foster sister) went on a road trip to NY to visit the Millers, River and Jasper, two foster brothers.  They have a pond and Johnny found the muddiest part of the pond and laid in it.  He was covered with mud and we had to hose him down before he could go anywhere.  He had a great time playing with all of his friends that day and that was one of the last times he got to do something like that. 

We had a special bond and Johnny even took the TDI test with both of us and passed with flying colors.  He actually fell asleep during the part of the test that he had to wait while we walked out of the room.  The tester had to wake him up to go to the next part of the test.  It took some coaxing (and hot dogs) to get him up to go to the next parts so we could finish!  But that was Johnny--he did what he wanted in his own time and never in a big hurry!  Sadly, Johnny was never healthy enough to use his TDI certification.  What a wonderful therapy dog he would have made.

Johnny’s health deteriorated over the nine months we had him and it seemed that we just got one issue under control and the next thing would pop up including having a spine that was totally fused together, it limited his movement.  He spent so much time at our vet-- Dr. Jeff at Green Animal Medical Center.  He loved going there and they took such great care of him--everyone knew who he was and he made himself right at home.

On August 21st, Johnny became very ill and could not walk.  We rushed him to the ER late in the evening, what a trooper he was.  Sadly, on August 22, 2007 we lost Johnny, mainly due to cancer.  He was with the people he loved and who loved him and was so content as to let us know that it was ok.  His fight was finally over.  He was a very special golden and will always have a very special place in our hearts.  We thank G.R.I.N. for bringing this special boy into our lives and we were so blessed to have him for the short time we did.   

- Lennie and Jane Kueking, August 2008