Johnathan Walker:It's National Dog Day and a good time to remember all they give us

Most dogs run wild at the “bark park.” Even the most docile puppies tap into their primal nature and Johnathan Walkerexhaust themselves when they meet furry friends in an open, safe, green space. 

But not Rocky.  

When we took him to the neighborhood dog park, our toy poodle strolled around the walkway the entire time. He was happy, but he carefully completed his steps on the sidewalk. My daughter – a teenager at the time – joked that Rocky looked like he was walking to the nearest Starbucks to grab a latte and newspaper. He was dignified and determined. Almost two decades later, that dignity and determination would mark his death.

This past February, when he was 18 years old, Rocky went on to paradise. Like millions of other people, I loved and lost a treasured family member. Losing Rocky was incredibly hard, but having him in our lives changed us all. 

But not everyone understands the value of caring for a companion animal once the novelty of getting an animal has worn off.  

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National Dog Day is Monday. It is a reminder of the benefits and challenges of caring for dogs, who bring amazing rewards and serious responsibilities.

Almost 87 million homes – 66% of U.S. households – have pets, and 65.1 million U.S. households have a dog. Yet each year, 3.1 million companion dogs enter community shelters – and many of those animals are “surrendered” or abandoned.

Rocky was one of those dogs returned by someone who was supposed to love him. I will never understand why someone would give him up. But it was their loss.  

When he was eight months old, we brought Rocky home after he had been discarded and hurt. Rocky was afraid of anything that looked like a stick. We took extra care when we were sweeping, mopping or even wrapping presents with a long tube of wrapping paper. Important responsibilities but with huge rewards. As I soon found out, the poodle was a favorite breed for a reason: Rocky was smart, adorable, curious and affectionate. We could keep him safe.  

When my son was diagnosed with autism, he was nervous about engaging with dogs because they could be unpredictable, loud and messy. But Rocky’s reserved attention made it easy for anyone to bond with him.

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Rocky was a calming presence who could help people feel more connected.

As I struggled with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rocky was the steady balm I needed. He was always available for a “make out” snuggle. This helped me feel better; dogs can lower blood pressure and lift people’s moods.

It is no wonder that they became the “heroes” of the pandemic. 

Senior dogs face extra risks of being abandoned

The greatest gift Rocky gave to us came toward the end of his life. Like many senior dogs, Rocky showed signs of physical and mental decline over the last few years. He was deaf, almost blind, a cancer survivor, and weakened by a stroke. But he was still determined and dignified.

It was truly our turn to meet the responsibility of caring for him. I felt a new, deepening love for my little companion who needed us more than ever.

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Older companion animals face significant risks. According to one study, "The chance of a dog or cat getting adopted significantly decrease with age of the animal due to high kennel competition against animals that have more 'desirable' traits. Furthermore, older animals are also more likely to be returned following adoption. The result of these factors is that older cats and dogs are amongst those with the greatest risk for euthanasia in a shelter."

The people who surrendered Rocky almost 20 years ago lost the opportunity to experience the great gift of offering another living being unconditional love. Through Rocky, I could see the immediate impact of the care I offered. In real time that meant guiding him out the back door, pretending to put seasoning on his prescription dog food and carrying him to bed when he was too tired to get up from his little couch.

I am thankful I had the chance to act on these responsibilities.  

Olympia Duhart is the associate dean for academic affairs and strategic initiatives and a professor of law at Nova Southeastern University's Shepard Broad College of Law.