After Adrienne's home was burglarized, she began adopting BIG senior dogs. The first "security dog" was a senior Doberman "with exceptionally large bones and teeth"! Her action solved two problems: the gentle dog with the scary bark had a loving home and her home was never robbed
again.
Her second reason for adopting senior pets was one of responsibility. "I am a senior and worry about when I die or enter a senior living home that my pets might outlive me and languish in a shelter," said Adrienne. "If we are ALL seniors, it solves the problem. Rescued elderly dogs are the bomb! I've adopted a Rottweiler, a Weimaraner, a Shepherd and an accidental Pitbull puppy, Rocky. Each was gentle, smart and they enriched my
life."
Rocky arrived 12 years ago as a six-month-old puppy. He was on Main Street trying to play with Boomer, her Rottweiler, and Amber, her Weimaraner, through their fence. His tail was joyfully-speed wagging like a windshield wiper on high at discovering the big dogs.
"He was so adorable," remembers Adrienne. "I worried that he would be struck by a vehicle, so I went to loop a leash on him. I almost succeeded, but he put his
paws down like they were embedded in cement and pulled his head out of the leash! I was huffing and puffing trying to catch and coax him to safety."
Briefly giving up, she headed back for her dogs as enforcements and was pleased to discover the little wiggler happily trotting along behind her!
"It was like he was saying, ‘Excuse me! This is my decision'," laughed Adrienne.
Being a fan of the movie
"Rocky" and because Rocky's girlfriend's name is Adrienne, she named the wiggly-wanderer, Rocky.
Three days later, someone declared Rocky his dog. When asked what the dog's name was the teen unbelievably remarked, "He doesn't have a name!"
He took Rocky, but a few hours later returned with an explanation, "My mother doesn't want the dog anymore."
Rocky was as excited to be back with his paw-picked furry
siblings as Adrienne was to have her "baby" back.
"He was like a lovestruck boy following me everywhere," said Adrienne. "He was a gift from God because a few months later our elderly Boomer died and three weeks later, Amber passed. We would have been totally bereft if we didn't have Rocky. Then we adopted two small elderly dogs.
Rocky was patient with the crazy Yorkie, Skeezix, who'd stick his head into Rocky's mouth to wash its
interior. Yuck! We never worried about our grandchildren, because Rocky was 'as gentle as a lamb'."
But, Skeezix was another story! He nipped visitors' ankles as a gallant Rocky tried blocking him protecting our visitors."
It is now twelve years later and Adrienne knew that Rocky's end was near.
"On his last night I lay on his bed until he fell asleep, and then I dragged the recliner over
and slept on it offering him support and comfort," said Adrienne. "We loved him enough to let him go. The next day as the veterinarian sent him on his journey over The Rainbow Bridge, I thanked him for choosing me, told him that he wouldn't be in any more pain, he was loved and to have a wonderful time playing with Boomer and Amber. I couldn't have asked for a better fur baby, a better companion or a better security guard. I am great-full that he chose us as his
family."