How Two Rescue Cavalier Dogs Rescued My Heart

After losing my senior American cocker/ cavalier dog Benji at 15 years old, my heart was shattered. He was my second rescue dog I’d lost in two years. Two lovely dogs that had grown with me from puppies to age 13 and 15 years old. I was determined to live without pets for a while. So last year, I travelled for nine weeks in Europe. When I returned to Sydney, the silence in my home was deafening. I was retired, adult kids and my grand kids busy with their lives. My life felt empty without the patter of paws and waggy tails.

Needing a purpose but not quite ready to commit to permanent ownership, I decided to become a foster carer and joined North Shore Dog Rescue. The plan was set: I was even booked to pick up a poodle foster that very week.

Then, fate stepped in. I went to a coffee meetup to meet the other foster carers, and there they were, two six-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniels rescued from a breeding farm only a week or so prior. One look into those sweet, loving faces, and my plans vanished. Belle and Ruby completely stole my heart right there in the coffee shop. Instead of fostering, I adopted them both!

Now, my home is full of life again. Whether Belle is daintily guarding the house or Ruby is heavy-footedly stomping right onto my lap, they are the absolute best company. I love them fiercely, and I am so grateful that the quietest chapter of my life led me straight to these two rescue princesses.

Here’s a little poem….

Have you ever had a pet completely change your plans and steal your heart when you least expected it? I would love to hear your own rescue stories or experiences with healing after losing a senior pet. Let me know in the comments below!