From Furever Foster Mom & Dad – Camille and Luke Sullivan –

Patch came into our lives at over fourteen years old, a senior dog with a lifetime of hard work behind him. Surrendered to SWESR from a hunting ranch, he had lived in a pen with other dogs without toys or a family to call his own. His health was poor, and his spirit was worn, but Patch yearned for love like no dog we’d ever seen before.  His desire for human companionship and love was insatiable. 

The day we picked Patch up, he was so thin you could see his ribs, and his fur was coming out in huge clumps because of a horrible skin infection.  His coat was coarse and yellowed from years without bathing, and his body had sores and abrasions.  His teeth were cracked and worn down, and he had an infection in his gums, which caused him a great deal of pain and prohibited him from properly eating as he should.  It took months of experimenting with food and antibiotics to get Patch on the mend so he could begin living his new life in retirement.  

In the 22 months Patch lived with us, we watched him blossom in ways we could never have imagined. He gained over 30 pounds and began to discover the simple pleasures of being a beloved pet.  Watching Patch play and chase after toys like a new puppy was fun to see in a senior dog.  Seeing him eat his first smoked pig ear was awesome. He kept looking at us as if to say, “This is mine, it’s really just for me?”. Patch could sit or lay next to you as long as you’d pet him, rub his belly, or scratch his ears.  He could never get enough love and affection, and watching his total transformation was a testament to the healing power of love.

Despite his age and hardships, Patch was one of the kindest, most gentle dogs we’ve ever had.  From the start, he shared with his younger sister Belle (another SWESR rescue) and let her be the boss.  He learned to love our daughter’s two kittens after Daddy told him they were “good kitties, just like Patch was a good boy,” and he never chased them again.  He had an overwhelming desire to please. He never wanted to disappoint us.  His gentle nature touched everyone who met him. He made us all feel loved and appreciated, his gratitude evident in every affectionate nuzzle. Patch reminded us daily of the profound bond between humans and their canine companions and every creature’s incredible capacity for love and healing.

We are grateful for our time with him and feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to give him the love and happiness he so desperately deserved. Patch’s story is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to find joy, give and receive love, and make a difference in an older dog’s life.  Suppose you’ve never fostered or adopted an older dog that’s spent most of their life in a pen with other hunting dogs. In that case, you’re missing out on that unique experience of a dog that’s had to wait until their senior years to have their own human finally.  These older dogs provide an extraordinary level of love and gratitude that’s hard to explain.  Patch left an indelible mark on our hearts and a legacy of love that will stay with us forever.  Patch is deeply missed, his memory will live on in our hearts, a beacon of our shared extraordinary bond with a boy who needed us as much as we needed him.

The SWESR Team would like to thank the Sullivan family for welcoming Patch into their home and hearts.