Story Of ‘Old Dog’ Heartwarming Tribute To The Kindness Of Others

CORRECTION: 10-11-97: V8 Nancy Larson is a teacher at Skyview Elementary. A cutline in Thursday’s Valley Voice stated her school incorrectly.

Three weeks ago, a very thin black lab appeared in my yard. I could see that he was looking for food. When I called to him, he turned and hobbled down the street on stiff legs.

Something about that brief encounter touched me, and for the next five days I looked for the old dog.

I searched our neighborhood. After work, I stopped by the animal shelter on Flora Road to check their dog stalls and the DOA list. At night, I kept looking out the window and when my outdoor motion lights would go on I couldn’t help but think that I had just missed him.

Finally, after awakening in the middle of the night, I looked out the front window and there he was.

I went to the door and called to him. At first he turned and started to leave. Then he stopped, turned his head and looked at me. Slowly he made his way to my door. I reassured him that he was welcome and safe, and he began to eat.

I woke my husband and he joined us in the kitchen to have a look at “Old Dog.” We stayed up with him the rest of the night and made plans to get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

What happened over the next two days was truly heartwarming.

We took Old Dog to a Valley veterinarian who refused to let us pay for the checkup.

We also placed an ad in the newspaper, trying to give his owner a chance to get him back. The paper told us that we did not have to pay for the ad, that it would run three days for free.

When I called the Valley animal shelter to let them know that I had found the dog, they remembered me and told me that if we decided to keep him, they would give us a free dog license. They also offered free food for Old Dog.

Each time we made an effort to help this dog, other people reached out to help us.

On the last day our ad ran in The Spokesman-Review, our phone rang. A woman said she thought we might have her dog. As we talked, I realized that Old Dog’s owner had indeed been found and arrangements were made for her to come and take him home.

As we visited that night, Old Dog slept peacefully in the middle of the living room floor. His owner kneeled next to him and gently stroked his side and rubbed his legs. Old Dog held his head up for just a moment - and seeing her there, returned to his peace.

We asked several questions about Old Dog. We learned that his name was actually “Sam.” We were told that he had been bothered for some time by arthritis in his legs, shoulders and hips and that he had always been a thin dog, even when he was younger and in better health.

We also learned that he had been getting out of his yard regularly by opening gates, digging under the fence or whatever means would enable his escape.

Old Sam’s owner told us that a year earlier, knowing that his condition was getting worse, the family had brought a new lab puppy into their home. The plan was to let Sam father a batch of puppies so that his line would be carried on.

The past year had been a difficult one for old Sam. The puppy had moved into his territory, disturbing his long naps, lapping up food and attention that once were only Sam’s.

At the end of our visit, we were all very happy to have Sam retuned to his home. The owner has invited our family to come by and visit Sam, even to take him for a walk or bring him back to our home for a snack, a back rub and an uninterrupted snooze.

Next spring, the puppy will be a year and a half old and ready for her first litter. We will get to share in this happy time. Who knows, I may open my door some morning to find Old Sam and his little family lined up on my front porch, shiny black tails wagging. Only this time, we will not have to call on the help of the community to find the dogs’ owner, for Old Sam will never be lost again.

Nancy Larson is a Spokane Valley native. She grew up at Liberty Lake and now lives with her husband and two sons in Veradale. She has been a teacher in the East Valley School District for 26 years. Her present class of fifth graders at Skyview Elementary eagerly anticipated Larson’s daily updates on her hunt for Old Dog, and the subsequent search for the black lab’s owner.

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