Hobo, a once-in-a-lifetime dog

Hobo’s Story

Hobo was born on October 9, 1999, but he did not come into my life until he was eight months old. The first eight months of his life left him very timid and scared. We worked through his fears for four years until he was finally able to approach people instead of hiding from them. He LOVED people and people loved him! There was something truly special about him that I can’t even put into words. Children who feared dogs would crawl all over him and parents would look to me in disbelief.

At six years of age, Hobo developed a cough, so I took him to the vet. I learned from x-rays that he had an extremely enlarged heart. I was advised to take him to a specialist. Less than a week later, we were making the nearly two-hour drive to MedVets in Worthington, Ohio. His diagnostic testing was going to cost $3,000. He was my ‘baby,’ still very young and otherwise healthy, so I opted to go ahead with the testing despite not having the funds readily available. I soon found out he was in the pre-stages of congestive heart failure. The treatment for this disease was quite affordable compared to the cost of the testing: $130 per month. He needed to take six pills per day. Those six pills allowed him to have an amazing life full of fun and love for 6 1/2 more years.

Two years ago on March 29, 2012, Hobo, who hadn’t slept in the bed for many months, asked to be lifted onto the bed. If I had known that would be the last time, I would have buried my face in his fur and wrapped my arms around him. If I’d have known he was saying goodbye, I would’ve never let go. I would’ve held on a little tighter and a little longer. Two years later and it still hurts like it was yesterday. I don’t believe that pain ever goes away. I think we just learn to carry it gently and gracefully over the years.

He was my once-in-a-lifetime dog. I don’t know what happened to him the first eight months of his life, but he was terrified of people. It took me four years to get him socialized to the point where he would walk right up to any stranger and want to make friends. He had a keen eye, though. If he didn’t trust someone, he would always stand between them and me. He helped me rehabilitate more than 150 dogs that had been severely abused and neglected; he taught them so many things I couldn’t, and every single one has remained in their forever home where I placed them.

He is a hero in my mind. He was so tolerant of me bringing so many animals home – tolerant of kids, kittens, and puppies. He was a one of a kind. Very mellow tempered, not the ‘hyper-spazz’ most Aussies are. He went everywhere with me; my trusty ‘pard’. Everyone who met him fell in love with him. He was a good boy.

I held him as he took his last breath and told him what a good boy he’d been and how much I loved him and would miss him. With my forehead to his, I gave him one last kiss. Told him everything would be OK and that we’d see each other again. He was so strong and tried so hard even to his last day. He could barely breathe due to his congestive heart failure. The breathing issues just happened overnight. He knew that it was his last night; I didn’t. When I woke up, I knew, and we went to the vet on my lunch break. He walked himself into the room. He was so strong and so loyal. He just wanted to please. I told him it was OK to go home now.

I miss you, my Hobo boy. Not a single day goes by that I am not reminded of you in some way. I love you buddy!

Kelly H. - Founder and President