This week's prompt Extended Family got me to wondering exactly how far away was still family.
I started thinking about the connections shared with work friends, and how much impact they have on colleagues.
Recently my work bestie suffered a huge loss when they lost their fur baby Angus.
I decided writing about Angus this week was a fitting tribute to an amazing dog I loved & who loved me. When he arrived at my place of work he would immediately beeline to me. The fact that I always had treats for him had nothing to do with it I'm sure. Then again shared food is how we build relationships in the human world too!
About 3 years ago my coworker and partner began fostering for a bully breed rescue agency. They fostered several who were all adorable. When a 10 year old bully mix named Angus arrived all of us at work who met him were smitten.
It wasn't very long after his arrival Malone & Matt realized he was the dog of their hearts, and they joined the ranks of 'foster failure'. The adoption was finalized not too long after.
Angus' life before becoming the center of Malone & Matt's universe was not pretty. His journey to the life of pampering was long and hard, but when you met Angus it was hard to guess that was true. He was the gentlest, sweetest, happiest, dog you could ever meet. He presented an aura of being wise, but in a goofy sort of way. He always had a smile, and brought a smile to those he connected with.
He was finally living his best life.
Angus will be remembered & missed by absolutely everyone who ever met him - even those who only knew him virtually.
When Angus arrived to his new family he had a large following on Instagram which needed to be maintained as a stipulation of his adoption. His original Instagram was AdoptAngus that was changed to AdoptedAngus before it was changed to hugabullangus. He was also known as AngusBeefcake.
Like any good Celebration of Life eulogies help those grieving.
These & others can be found on social media
(links for these in sources below).
This from
April Fahr shared this:
"Angus left us yesterday.
The difference was that Chica and Notch needed us. They were both a little "special" in their own ways, but Angus was a unicorn. He had one of the nicest temperaments I've ever seen and charmed absolutely everyone, even if they only knew him through social media. People at pet events would stop us: "Is that Angus?!? OMG can I say hi??" (Angus: YES PLEASE!!).
His is the story I tell when someone starts with the "it's all how you raise them" narrative. If that was true, Angus would have been a fearful, defensive dog. The first half of his life was not good. He was saved through a humongous group effort involving Spirit's Mission, PG Humane Society and HugABull Advocacy & Rescue Society which could be a whole other post. Everyone involved became smitten with this dog and stepped up without hesitation to help him.
I had the privilege of having him in my home for seven months. He was the happiest, most joyful creature. He loved making new friends, and he had the most incredible knack for it. If anyone avoided eye contact or was uncomfortable he was never pushy. But if you were interested, he would beeline over and curl into you (it was hard to pass a bus stop on walks. 😂). He never jumped or acted obnoxiously, and would sit as long as you wanted just enjoying your touch and your companionship.
I meet a lot of dogs and a lot of friendly dogs, but there was something really special about how he connected with people. Maybe it was because he knew loneliness and neglect, and he didn't want anyone around him to ever feel sad or alone.
He was obsessed with food (probably why he was the rare dog to come from a neglect situation 25 pounds overweight). He loved toys but squeakers freaked him out. 😂He adored Chica and found the cutest ways to semi-consensually snuggle with her.
We considered keeping him for many reasons. He didn't get a lot of adoption interest (a mystery) and no one wanted to see him go to a "just pretty good" home. The bar was high, but when he landed with Malone Smith and Matt, they smashed that bar.
They saw exactly how special he was, and they doted on him. Malone got him certified as a therapy dog, which I truly believe was his calling. He went on adventures and vacations and got to hang out at the local library where she worked. They were an amazing team.
As hard as rescue can be sometimes, this is the kind of outcome that inspires you. Getting updates from Malone brightened many of my days.
We all wanted to see him be 16 and old and grey and spoiled. If anyone deserved it, it was him. But cancer had a different plan.
Angus used to be a "helper" dog at the East Van Training Club (a safe space for reactive dogs). He was so bombproof (and so hypnotized by food), that he would chill while other nervous dogs could do a controlled, polite, rewarded sniff. We will use some of our donation funds to make a donation to St. John Ambulance BC/Yukon Therapy Dog program and Justice for Bullies - because who is a better ambassador for fat-headed dogs and people who fight for them?! "
HugABull Advocacy & Rescue Society shared this:
"Every dog that comes through our program has a special place in our hearts, but every once and a while, a dog comes along that manages to take up a little more space. Maisy and Angus were two of those dogs.
We were heartbroken when just weeks apart from one another, Maisy and Angus crossed the rainbow bridge - hopefully to meet once again on the other side.
When Maisy came to us, she had been found as a stray in horrific condition, no doubt living a life in which she had been suffering for a long time. We spent over a year trying to get her health stable, which often felt like one step forward and two steps back.
Finally, the loveliest of people came along, Greg and Nicole, and they gave her the most wonderful forever home. At last, she had her own family that would love her for the rest of her life. Maisy settled in with Greg and Nicole as if she had been with them her whole life. She even became friends with their two cats, whom she often shared her bed with. She enjoyed walks with her new family on the beach, cuddling in bed, and of course, being constantly doted on. Many of the issues that constantly plagued her seemed to improve and she looked better than she ever had. We were all hopeful that Maisy would have many years left with Greg and Nicole after enduring such a hard life, but sadly it wasn’t so. On June 9th, Maisy had a stroke in the middle of the night and passed at the vet hospital surrounded by those who loved her. While we are so saddened by her loss, we are so grateful that during her short time with us, she was able to experience so much love, spending her final days with a family of her very own.
In 2018, we welcomed Angus into our rescue program after he was transferred to us from the PG Humane Society. He immediately melted the hearts of everyone he met and at 100lbs, he quickly became known as our special little meatball. Angus was a familiar face at events and was an incredible ambassador for the breed. We knew we needed to find Angus the perfect family and that day came when he met Malone and Matt. We couldn’t have dreamt up a more perfect family for him. Through the dedication of Malone, Angus would become a Certified Therapy Dog with Saint Johns Ambulance where he would continue to give back to the community and help change people’s perception of bully breeds.
In 2020, Maisy and Angus crossed paths when Maisy joined the Guenther family as a foster. Angus and Maisy developed a slow friendship, sharing a passion for food and couch space until Maisy was ready to move on to the next leg of her journey. This past summer, Matt and Malone cautiously agreed to open their home once more to a dog in need. Puppy Waylon joined their family but with one condition - Angus would be the deciding factor about whether or not Waylon would stay permanently. With time, Angus and Waylon became the best of friends and would soon spend their days wrestling and eventually sleeping cuddled up on the couch. Much like Maisy, we expected many more years with Angus, and were crushed when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. From that day forward, Malone and Matt made sure that every day was Angus’ best day and he enjoyed many of the foods his previous diet hadn’t permitted.
On June 24th, Angus made it known that he was ready to say his final goodbye and even though we knew it was coming, it wasn’t any less painful. We are so thankful to the Guenther family for helping Angus live up to his full potential and for giving him the dream home he always deserved.
When dogs like Maisy and Angus cross the rainbow bridge, they take a little bit of us with them - but in the end, we are so glad that we were able to be part of their lives. Thank you to those individuals who have made a generous donation to HugABull in memory of these two special dogs. If Angus and Maisy made a lasting impression in your life and you would like to make a donation in their memory, you can do so here ❤️ https://www.hugabull.com/donate.
Rest in Peace Angus and Maisy, you will never be forgotten 🌈🌈"
Angus had an aura about him that was soothing. He & Malone passed the training program for the St. John Therapy Dog Program. He visited the local prisons, library, & vaccine clinics. He was an ambassador for several animal non-profits attending many community events. He loved his work.
Angus changed the opinion of many who were afraid of Pit Bulls.
Angus was very photogenic & a ham for the camera. These are only a few of the photos that can be found on social media.
It's in the kitchen where Angus' presence is so obviously missing. No longer tripping over him or feeling his attempt to will food to the floor.
Who would have guessed having no more slobber to clean up would be so sad.
Left to mourn are:
his parents Matt & Malone
and his brother Waylon
A small girl announced at an event that Angus was her best friend.
She was not alone.
Angus' circle of friends was wide.
He will be missed.
Finding your FUREVER home!!!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Photos & Video:
Facebook, Instagram, personal & family provided July 2022
Sources:
Angus...aka Angus Beefcake...aka Meatball – is ADOPTED. HugABull Advocacy & Rescue Society. Retrieved July 5th 2022 from
https://www.facebook.com/Hugabull/photos/a.160504277304635/2699822083372829/
Angus Instagram Page. hugabullangus. Instagram. Retrieved July 6th 2022 from https://www.instagram.com/hugabullangus/
Memorials:
April Fahr Facebook Page. Angus Memorial. Retrieved July 5th 2022 from
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10166808987340497&set=a.157611775496
HugABull Advocacy & Rescue Society Facebook Page. Angus & Maisy Memorial. Retrieved July 7th 2022 from
https://www.facebook.com/Hugabull
Justice for Bullies Facebook Page. Angus Memorial. Retrieved July 5th 2022 from
https://www.facebook.com/Justiceforbullies/posts/pfbid0BaqxkiW1xRo1qTnohWP9htt1chu5HCZXeRihcGmVGGFwWAq83sifJVJ64Z7h93AYl
PG Humane Society Facebook Page. Angus Memorial. Retrieved July 7th 2022 from https://www.facebook.com/pghumanesociety
Spirit's Mission Facebook Page. Angus Memorial. Retrieved July 5th 2022 from https://www.facebook.com/spiritsmission/
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/
______________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment