In the summer of 2014 my husband decided he wanted to adopt a dog, and he wanted a Rottweiler.  He checked shelters, Craig's List, and  rescue websites daily.  Not too far from us was a family that felt that, with their young children and their friends, they just could not keep their Rottweiler any longer.  We drove over one Saturday afternoon to meet "Millie" and we fell in love, she was large (even for a Rottweiler) and very well trained and we were ready to take her home with us. But the family wanted a day to say goodbye to her and would call us on Sunday.  We waited but the phone never rang.  Mark finally called them and the family had decided that they couldn't give us Millie after all.  We were heart broken!  

I had already had a year filled with a school shooting, a hospitalization, word that I had a rare cataract in one eye.  My husband's father had suffered not one but 2 heart "incidents" and at the same time his mother was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Our daughter had also just graduated from the University of Oklahoma with two BA degrees. and our son had an ear all but severed due to a work related accident. It had been a busy year and we were barely half way through.  To have been turned down by Millie's family was good for them but heartbreaking for us.

Mark continued to look.  One day he emailed me a photo of the sorriest looking dog I had ever seen.  The document stated that he was a 65 pound neutered male Rottweiler; approximately 5-8 years old;  found abandoned; heart worm-positive. Aggressive. Location: Houston.  Status: needs foster home, due for euthanasia. No one wanted an old and potentially mean Rottweiler.

Mark wanted him.

He was delivered to our doorstep in white van by Rescued Pets Movement, his name was Roarke and he was skinny, dirty, and shy.  His head hung low and he would not look anyone in the eye.  Frankly I was worried that we had just gotten a dog that was either broken or mean and aggressive.  As time quickly showed, he was neither.  He is the sweetest dog I think I have ever met; protective of both Mark and I but mainly of me (I think he knows that Mark can take care of himself).

He has proven to be the healing balm this woman needed after the school shooting...we spent a summer together giving each other unconditional love and attention and we both healed.  Me from my shock and he from years spent chained and sitting on cement, malnourished and unloved.  Roarke taught me some things too:

A heart as tough as shoe leather can be softened by love.

Don't be afraid to play with your favorite toy. Roarke after his first bath and with his new toy.

Take a walk everyday.

Laugh at yourself.

Eat well and take naps, you will feel better.

Age really is just a number.

Love unconditionally.