I adopted Rusty when he was 12 years old. He was on the euthanasia list at a shelter in Tucson when a volunteer went to get him and brought his home to a no-kill shelter (in her house). No one knows why he was on that list and we can only figure it was because he was 12 and had some skin issues. I took him home to be a friend to Vivian Leigh, my English Mastiff (who he is with now) but he was not interested. He didn't want to play, he just......was. He would jump on the couch sometimes and sit in my lap but just as often curled up at the end of the couch. He was a trooper. When he was about 14 or so, he started getting sick, panting and panting. I didn't know what to do. I brought him to the animal emergency room and they kept him. They called the next day and said his gall bladder was ready to burst and he needed surgery. I said ok and they went through all the potential complications. I said ok. At his age, he, of course, had all the complications and was doing very, very bad. I went to see him everyday to see and pet him. He didn't have any favorite blanket or toy (like I said he just was.....) so I brought a towel down that would have my scent on it for him. I could only stay 10 or 15 minutes as the kennels were also in the treatment area. He was in the hospital for 3 or 4 days. They called me and said he was not doing well and they could do one more thing. They could give him 2 units of Fresh Frozen Plasma but it was $750 a unit. I thought if there was one more thing to do, then we needed to do it. They gave him one unit, he bounced back and came home 2 days later. I had purchased a huge kennel for the little guy thinking he needed it since he had a cone and I had two other HUGE dogs. And I also bought a baby gate so I could keep him in his own room and away from the big dogs. Well, I came home and he plowed right past the big kids. Then I thought, well, I will have to make sure he gets outside to potty and he headed straight to the doggy door and got himself through even with the big cone on his head! 14 years old!! Less than a year later he got pneumonia and recovered quickly and then bronchitis and hardly slowed down. He had a bunch of moles - the groomer said it was like an obstacle course to groom him. I took him and Vivian to the dog park and one time I thought we had stayed too long so they might be too warm even with the A/C on and needed water. I went to the drive through at McDonalds and there were two lanes for ordering. I just got water but had to wait in line. I wasn't even thinking but Vivi was in the front seat and Rusty was in the back. The windows were rolled down and I could see people looking, pointing, laughing. I could see what Vivi was doing but when I turned around Rusty had put his paws up and his head half way out the window smelling the burgers. Even when we did go to the dog park he didn't really interact with the other dogs. He and Vivi were not thrilled when we first started going and didn't go very far from me. Then one day I noticed he was half way across the park (this was a bigger dog park) and I was so proud of him. One time he even ran with the bigger dogs (the park was split between big and little dogs - we were on the big dog side). The big dogs would run along the fence and bark at the little dogs that ran at the fence. I couldn't believe he actually ran with them. But despite his continued self confidence, he always knew where I was. I tried to step back to the car to get something (just outside the fence) and he was across the park. He was at the door when I walked back in. I don't want to talk much about what happened but he got older, a couple moles were cancer (a very slow growing non-metastasizing tumors). And even at 17 when those were taken off he drove ME crazy because he kept walking around with this huge come, bumping into me (he followed me everywhere) and everything else. He didn't seem to care he had this huge cone on. As an older dog, his hearing and eyesight got worse. But somehow, he always knew when I went to get ice. He loved ice cube. Time went on and his back leg started getting weaker and wouldn't grip. He still got around. But time does go on and ....... I love him so much. I became a pest to the vet's office, and especially, would only see one of the vets. I would call them to try to fit him in because I was scared and worried about him. One day I noticed a large cyst on his back hip. I called and got an appointment in 2 days. Within 30 minutes had plopped down and it burst. I brought him in and after that he couldn't walk. I could see how much pain he was in despite pain pills. He also had an unusual lab test the previous week and we scheduled him for an ultrasound thinking he may have pancreatitis - which is extremely painful. But he couldn't walk, I tried to carry him out to potty but it didn't work. He is my "Little Man". I also have a huge St. Bernard and I called Rusty the Little Big Brother to the St. Bernard. He came to me in my dream last night and I was so surprised to see him and so happy! I called to my (late) husband who was also in the dream and told him Rusty was here. He was wagging his little tail and shaking with happiness, looking at me and smiling - he was never normally that expressive. He was smiling and I could see his eyes, so clear and happy. I petted and petted him. Then he went out the doggy door. He has lots of friends at Rainbows Bridge and I can't wait to see him again. When the tech came to take him picked him up to take him in the back, I kept saying "don't let him be alone". She picked him up and his head dropped over her arm. I should have told her to hold up his head. She assured me he wouldn't be alone. I can't begin to say how sad I am and how to keep going. He is in my heart and I hope I am in his. I have to go on and Tiberius also needs me. And I need him.

---

---

 
Rusty Oliver's People Parent(s), Karen, would appreciate knowing you have visited their Rusty Oliver's Memorial Residency.

Click here to Email Karen a condolence, or to send an E-sympathy pet memorial card click here.

Give a gift renewal of Rusty Oliver's residency
(by Credit Card, or PayPal)