On Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, I adopted a puppy by the name of Alvin from SCARS (Second Chance Animal Rescue Society).
This is our story……
DAY 1
Possible dog adoption on the horizon. Amanda found this little dog named Alvin on the SCARS website. He is a Cocker Spaniel mix. Black and white. Very cute. His foster family invited us to go and meet Alvin. The whole family is going tonight. We are very excited. In the afternoon, I ran out to The Bone & Biscuit (which is a local pet food store) to grab some toys, and things that I thought were necessary for a puppy.
We drove after supper to meet Alvin. Oh my gosh! Despite having a rough start he was doing well in his temporary new surroundings. These folks were incredible. A representative from SCARS was there, as well. We visited, and got to know Alvin, a little. After much discussion ….. I decided to adopt Alvin. How could I not? So after signing the papers, going through his medication(s) and other instructions we were on our way. The ride home was interesting. Alvin drooled the whole way. He must have been terrified, not knowing what was going on. After all, he had just settled in with the other people, and now these guys were carting him off. To where? When we got back to my house, the kids came in, and helped give Alvin his medication, and then I was on my own. Much like having a baby. Except when I had Amanda – I actually had help. This time I was ALONE….. exciting and scary. Time for bed.
Welcome Alvin Charlie Lewis. I had thought of changing his name to Charlie but decided that Alvin suited him best.
Today is Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Alvin turned “14” on January 19th. I have been posting about Alvin’s state of health since the beginning of January. It seemed like one minute he would be on the road to better health and then things changed. In hindsight, I know the old adage …. 20/20…
My heart is breaking as on Saturday, February 18, 2023 in the morning we said goodbye to our sweet, sweet Alvin. My cuteness, my bubba, my Al, my Albin, my trusted companion ……
We (his sister Amanda and I) took him to the Emergency Hospital last Friday where he had his first surgery of 2021. After an assessment the team admitted him where they would keep him overnight to to do an ultrasound and to give him IV fluids to keep him hydrated. I did not know the results from the stool sample until Thursday and had asked at his Vet to have bloodwork done at that time. The results from the stool sample and bloodwork showed a horrible bacterial infection and that his kidneys were in trouble. At this point things were very bad but we did not know the extent of his situation until we received the call from Guardian, the Emergency Hospital on Friday night. Most of the call is a blur to be honest. None of what the Doctor told me would change the outcome for my poor Alvin.
I want this post to be about him and his life, a celebration of a little dog named Alvin, who would win my heart and the hearts of everyone who met him over the course of his 14+ years on this earth.
From the beginning Alvin was a fixture in our neighbourhood. Every walk we met someone new and over the years those two and four legged(s) became our friends, our family. Alvin just had an easy way with everyone. There are so many stories. I really need to write a book about his life because he was one of a kind. He came into my life when I did not know that I needed him and spent the next years being my best friend, my companion, my everything. I learned so much from him and will spend the rest of my life attempting to be more like him.
We became a family of three humans and three pups when I adopted Alvin back in 2010. He became a playmate for Penny and for Elton, someone initially that was tolerated. Elton loved Alvin but it was Penny who gave Alvin a run for his money. They played and teased each other. I saw just the other day a video of Alvin pulling Elton on a floor mat ( I smiled and cried). There are photos of the three pups sitting on the back of the sofa looking out of the window at my daughter and son-in-law’s house while we waited for them to arrive home from work. I am so grateful that his first year or so with me, I was at home full-time and for most of the last three years due to the Pandemic, I was also at home with my sweet, sweet boy. Elton and Penny passed in 2016. Amanda & Steven adopted Milo a short time before Elton passed as he had been alone since Penny’s passing earlier in the year. Milo was a puppy and so small. I think initially Alvin was nervous around him. A few days before Christmas of 2016, Miss Aspen, a yellow lab cross joined our family. She was about one year old, I believe. Then we were three and three again.
Somewhere along the way, we met Allie and her Abby from down the street. Right from the start Abby was the love of Alvin’s life. It was evident each time they were together. They would roll around on the lawn and were just so happy to be in each other’s company. She passed way about three years ago and Alvin was heart broken.
We met Iris, Walter, Abbey and Teddy while out for a walk one summer’s day many years back. That first meeting would be the beginning of a friendship for us all but more importantly one for Alvin and Teddy. I, we teased that they were best friends and they truly were. Sadly Abbey passed away not too long after we met. The relationship between Alvin and Teddy grew. Iris would tell me that she could not utter Alvin’s name when they were getting ready to come over to our house, because he would get so excited. They loved each other and had so many sleepovers over the years. Years later they adopted Kobi, a little sister for Teddy and she became Alvin’s dear friend as well.
Our next door neighbour Sonja adopted a cat named Humphrey after her first cat Aussie passed on. There was something about Alvin and Humphrey and from the beginning they liked each other. Humphrey would be out front on a leash getting some fresh air and would immediately come up our front porch looking for Alvin. He spent lots of time here with Alvin. When Humphrey came into the house Alvin would walk up to him and they would touch noses to say hello and then they were off exploring. They spent time in our backyard as well. Theirs was a special relationship for sure. A couple of years or so ago, Sonja adopted a kitten named Bogart who has grown into this huge grey cat. Alvin always wanted to get closer to him but that was not meant to be. Bogart did grow to “tolerate” the neighbour.
We met “Cookie” a little girl a few years ago. She belonged to a family who lives a few doors down from us and at the time, her human Dad and I worked for the same company. We would meet them when we were out for walks. Her Dad Husam would say that Cookie did not do well around other dogs but Alvin was the exception. Two Christmases ago, their family was going to Disneyland for two weeks and they asked if Cookie could stay with us. I immediately said yes. I remember the night where they came over just to ensure that she would be okay with Alvin in his space. Alvin was so chill and Cookie after running a quick marathon around the living room, settled down. They could not believe their eyes. We enjoyed our time with Cookie, she kept me hopping and was good company for Mr. Alvin. When I had to go back to the office for three days each week in October, it was Cookie’s Mom Alyaa who would come to take care of Mr. Alvin. They are family now.
Alvin had so many friends. I am sorry that I cannot share stories of them all. Some of his friends have passed on.
In addition to the long list of pups that Alvin called friends over his lifetime, there were a long list of humans as well.
Our friend Pauline who has the most beautiful garden in the summer and where Alvin and I would love to go and hang out. Pauline & Al have a grand pup Georgie and I remember the day when she walked him over to met Alvin. Lots of energy. Another friend. I always said that Pauline’s yard was our “happy place” as Alvin could run and sniff without worry. Our yard is small so he enjoyed running around her yard. He would check out the flowers and sniff every blade of grass.
Alvin had a unique talent. We only found this out when our friend Val would mail parcels to me filled with all sorts of goodies. She would always include a package specially for him. When I would go to the mailbox and bring a box into the house, he would get so excited. Then came the best part. Until I got the box opened, he would jump up and bark. I would locate his package right away and grab the phone to take video as he opened the package. Yes, he would actually open the package. One paw holding the sacred parcel and with his mouth he would tear away at the tissue paper until he found his special treats waiting inside. The last few Christmases and birthdays have been amazing as well. I wished I could remember how old he was when he started to do this but it is a great memory. In fact, this last Christmas Miss Aspen started to open her gifts as well. I guess she learned “gift opening” from him.
We were not able to have an actual birthday party for him this year due to timing but he did have many parties complete with Invites, Birthday cake/cupcakes and guests and lots of presents. Those are memories I shall treasure forever.
I apologize to those dear friends whom I cannot begin to mention everyone as this post would be even longer.
Alvin was one of a kind. He had a gentle soul. Yes, he was an anxious pup but he always treated his friends and family with love and respect and kindness. I am so grateful for technology and for all the videos and photos that I have at the touch of a button. I can hear his voice now.
Funny that right from the beginning he would follow me everywhere. When I was in the kitchen he was in the kitchen, when I was having a shower he would sit on a mat with his back to me (always the gentleman) and when I was in bed, he was right beside me. The very first night that he came to live with me, I had made a little bed for him next to my bed. He just looked up at me and cried. That last about twenty seconds or less and from that point on, he slept next to me. Alvin always had to be touching me when we went to bed and then sometimes he would move over.
Alvin was not fond of haircuts and baths, nail trims, and ear cleanings or car rides but he loved his friends, his family, walks, bananas, carrots, cauliflower and chicken, opening special packages for him. He had a good life. Alvin lived his life until his last breath with a dignity all his own. He will never be forgotten. To add, he loved his toys. His sister mentioned about how he would go into his toy box and toss the toys around until he found the one that he wanted in that moment.
I just looked at the time and it has been two hours since I started to write this post. It has now been three full days since my beloved Alvin took his last breath on this earth. I would like to think that he has joined Elton, Penny, Abby, Abbey, Aussie, Casey, Jasmine and Jack and that they are all in a happy place filled with acres of green grass and sweet flowers to sniff and explore, bananas (his favourite) and good food to eat and blue skies over head.
There are no words to express the outpouring of love that has come to me and my family over the lost of our sweet Alvin. He was loved by everyone. The living room is filled with beautiful flowers and cards; he would have loved them. The stories shared. Tears have fallen across our faces as we mourn the loss of our dear, dear Alvin. I can honestly say that he was one of a kind and he touched the lives of everyone he came across during his time on this earth. He will remain in my thoughts and in my heart for the rest of my days on this earth. I will never forget him. He is engrained in my very being. So many memories most of them great. I shall miss our walks, our snuggles on the sofa. He loved the sofa, the chaise part of the sofa. That is where he spent most of his last time on this earth.
Thank you to his sister Amanda, to his brother-in-law Steven, to Aspen & Milo for being the best family to Alvin and to me. To the team at Guardian: Trina, Jamie, Dr. Zhao, Dr. Cockwill, Dr. Frederick and the young woman who helped us with the final preparations. I am sorry her name escapes me. She was so sweet and kind with such a hard job. To our friends and family: Pauline & Al and Family, Sonja, Steven, Humphrey & Bogart, Michelle & Family, Tejada Family, Gillian and Signe, Allie & Bailey and Family, Alyaa, Husam, “Cookie” and Family, Arlene, Joanna, to my sister Cindy and my brothers John and Tyler and families, Iris, Walter, Best Friend Teddy and Kobi, Jessica & Eric, Paulette, Karen, Suzette, Jami, Malena & Susana, Aron, Crystal & Family, Anick & Children, and Diana, Rod & Family. There are so many people to thank for your love and support. To Dr. Karen (his regular Doctor), Michelle, Brenne and Chelsey – there are no words.
I would like to post a few more photos from over the years. There are way too many too post but I will share a few.
I had hoped that this time would have been far into the future but our time together on this earth has now passed. You were the best and will always remain in my thoughts and in my heart. I am saddened beyond words that you are gone but I can see those eyes and I know that you needed to leave. Thank you for being my friend, my buddy, my companion, and my “SON.” Thank you Alvin Charlie Lewis.
With every step I take, you will always be at my side.
Love, Always & Forever
Your Momma
My New Life @ 51 