We are posting this story in tribute to Ol Boy. His story shows us there are some truly great humans out there! We highly recommend grabbing a box of kleenex before hitting play. Thank you to Beth Zimmerman from Pets for Patriots for sharing this touching story with us.
When a rescue team took Ol Boy in for treatment, they found him laying in his own filth and unable to move. His weakness, however, wasn’t an accident.
Even after treatment, Ol Boy was in a lot of discomfort and had little time left. He did, however, want to die naturally and feel the love and warmth of a home for the first time. So the rescue team granted his wish and let Ol Boy experience something he never had before – love.
Members of the team stuck by his side, giving Ol Boy the care and companionship he had longed for. He had to be given water, as he was too weak to get himself up to drink. The team stood vigil for him, along with some of the other dogs in the home.
By 2am, Ol Boy sat up and had a drink of water for the final time. He finally passed away peacefully at 4am.
Before he died, Ol Boy had shown a beach to his communicator. Upon his passing, the team Ol Boy worked to fulfill his final wish. Ol Boy was cremated and spread his ashes along the beach – where he could finally run free.
A big thank you to the rescue team who allowed Ol Boy the chance to experience the love and understanding that all dogs deserve, even strays.
9/19/2012
Today we received a note from Natalie with information on the organization that gave Ol’ Boy the comfort at the end of his life that he had never known as a street dog. SOSD (Save Our Street Dogs) is in Singapore. It was these folks who held vigil with Ol’ Boy in his final days. You may visit their webpage here: http://www.saveourstreetdogs.com
Thank you Natalie K. for emailing us.
I hope they did give him something for pain so he didn’t suffer any more. And I hope he was on a soft bed. The street dogs suffer so much.
How cruel humans are for ignoring this dog for so long before someone took notice. When will humans stop being so self centered?
And I wonder how they ‘knew’ what his wish was?
According to the article they had an animal communicator with him.
It sure looked as if he was suffering to me–I felt horrible watching him lay there on a hard floor,in obvious discomfort, probably wondering if anyone was going to help him.I loved my dog so much that I wouldn’t let her suffer in the end like this,and she passed very quickly,peacefully and without pain,as I held her precious sweet head and gazed into her eyes telling her it was going to be ok.It was hard–but she was old and ill,and scared and suffering. I would want to believe that if I was a dog,someone would think of me this way,and help me to pass comfortably.And –where on earth were the rescuers when this poor creature was for many years fending for himself on the streets? I have yet to hear of an “animal communicater” who has ever been correct in their alleged communication.Just sooo sad.
How heartbreaking. Dogs deserve such simple things in life; a home, compainionship of a human being, care of their basic needs, but most of all, love. Run free, Ol Boy. There’s no pain or sickness at the Rainbow Bridge.
Omg cried my eyes out. All I could say in my head watching this video was ‘I would have loved to take care of you’ that poor dog. Thank god there are some good people in the world that took in this poor soul and took such amazing care of him in his last few days. This made me so incredibly sad.
Fine fine people. Thank you so very much. A wonderful example for others.
*sob*
Like the others, I not only cried, I was balling my eyes out for that sweet doggie. I’m both sad for the hard life and lack of compassion and love Ol Boy experienced, and joyful for the caring hearts of these stand up rescuers. Their example of kindness and selflessness makes me want to be a better human.
Thanks for taking care of Ol Boy…..giving him and identity and memory!!!
Writing this with tears in my eyes, I want to thank everyone who helped care and love Ol’ Boy. May he cross over the Rainbow Bridge and run free. Run Ol’ Boy, run happy and free!