My family was looking for another puppy to add to our home to be best friends with our 6 month old puppy Keiko and to be the “family” dog (because Keiko was supposed to be “my” dog). My mother saw Clare on your website and we knew she was destined to join our family. She was so young when we saw her that we had to wait for her to be sterilized before we could take her home, but we often stopped at her foster home in Carstairs.
When she came back with us, our whole house changed. She brought such joy, and she and Keiko became inseparable. We quickly realized that if one of the dogs had to go somewhere, both dogs had to come. They loved going anywhere, including the vet’s office, always wagging tails and happy to make everyone smile.
Even though Clare was supposed to be the family dog, she became MY dog. I was 12 and learning to take care of dogs that I had wanted so much all my life, but never imagined how close a bond one could bond with just one. Even my family admits that she was my dog, and although she loved everyone in the family, she really loved me. She hugged everyone, but as soon as I got home, she had to be near me. She would only sleep on the bed if it was my bed, and would only cuddle on the couch if it was with me, even if I made her comfortable with another family member. As soon as I walked away, she joined me.
She was terrified of loud noises. Thunder season was the worst for her and she was looking for me to comfort me. We would frequently hide in the basement together and listen to calmer sounds of nature until her anxiety subsided and she fell asleep – usually being cuddled like a teaspoon. If I couldn’t go to the basement, she would stay by my side, somehow managing to crawl into my lap (because all big dogs are companion dogs, right? right?) Even if there was someone in the basement she could hide from the thunder with. — and she knew the basement was her safe space from the loud rumblings. She found me to be her safest space.
And just as I was her safe space, she was mine. Whenever I felt down, upset or having a bad day, she was there to comfort me. If I cried, she would snuggle up to me and lick my face. If I was angry or frustrated, she would stamp on me to pet her until I calmed down. If I was upset and she couldn’t get my attention, she would find my mother or my brother and pat them down until they followed her to help me. She didn’t even have to be on the same floor of our house to be able to tell when something was wrong with me, she could see it from afar.
She was an incredibly empathetic dog. He was also the dog who calmed situations with other dogs.
She was the dog that reactive dogs didn’t react to, and that other dogs learned from. I brought home another dog, Snookie, when I was 21. Snookie had never been allowed to interact with other dogs (or even go outside because her previous owners hadn’t spayed her and she was very responsive to other dogs, especially if they “caught my attention”. I knew she would be fine with Clare, because Clare was the complete opposite Clare was quiet and unreactive Clare (and Keiko) taught Snookie how to be a dog She taught Snookie the wonders of sniffing on walks, cuddling other dogs, how to introduce herself to other dogs and how well the dogs are doing, she also taught my co-worker’s dog, Astrid, how to play and be good with dogs and people. was very reactive, and I didn’t know how to play. I told my colleague to let Clare meet her, because Clare had the perfect energy and also knew how to defuse a situation. My colleague was nervous, but we let them meet in the lobby of our animal hospital in the middle of the night, and everything went wonderfully. Astrid was obsessed with Clare, and within moments they were playing and running around (even though Clare was 13 at the time, she could still keep up!) Clare taught Astrid how to play and how to exist with other dogs. She was the first dog Astrid interacted with, the first dog she played with, the first dog she was calm with, and the dog that gave hope and calm to her owner, Astrid.
She was also intelligent and motherly. She loved puppies and kittens. Another colleague had adopted a kitten named Pickles and we introduced him to the veterinary hospital as well. Clare was obsessed and Pickles learned how much fun it was to jump on the legs of a big dog. They weren’t allowed to leave our back receiving area and go up front, and Clare made sure that if Pickles got away, Clare would get her back to their area. She also helped Astrid’s owner in other ways. Astrid’s owner, Jenn, also had a cat, Jax, who was afraid of dogs because the only dog he was around chased him. He spat, arched his back and hid. I suggested that he meet Clare before meeting Astrid so he could see a calm dog and see that not all dogs are bad. After an hour of Clare being in the house and just being quiet, even when Jax was in sight, he stopped hiding, spitting and growling. He didn’t approach her, but lay on the ground, watching her from five feet away, with no puffy fur or anything.
Clare was a special dog. I know everyone says that about their dogs, but she really was. She touched everyone she met. She has made a difference for many people, dogs and cats. And I wanted to share her story and thank you for bringing her into my life.
We said goodbye to Clare in January 2023. She was my go-to dog and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. She had two cancers (bladder and thyroid) that she had fought so hard against, her back had a hernia and she was tired. It was her time and she threw a party. She ate so much food, burgers and ice cream and chicken and whipped cream and cheese and chicken, and then when she was done she put her head in my lap and started squirming. fall asleep before the doctor comes in. She passed peacefully into my arms. .
Thank you for bringing me my heart dog. I will never forget him. I will miss her deeply. She lives in my memories, with her paws on my heart, and through all the animals and people she has met.
– A grieving but grateful dog mom