Tommy’s Memorial
CATTLEDOG/PITBULL MIX
From: Riverside, California
Adopted: 2021
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge: July 21, 2024
We are heartbroken to announce that Tommy rapidly declined on Sunday evening. We had to do what was best for him, and we had the emergency vet give him his wings to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
For an old, deaf dog, Tommy was such a character... always getting into trouble, whether it was into the bagels and bread, or the trash can...we knew wherever Tommy went, there would be trouble!
In September 2021, we pulled Tommy aka Gramps from the Riverside County Animal Shelter. He was part of an 80 dog seizure case where he lived with his sister at an illegal encampment. Unfortunately, she was euthanized for health reasons and Tommy was completely lost without his sister. Since he was deaf, he relied on his sister quite a bit and he slept on her so that he could wake up when she got up.
After we took him in, his former owner reached out to us and gave us more insight to Tommy, whom she called Tigger for the way he bounced due to his long, slightly sway back. Since he was deaf, and we were not keen on his name, we changed it to Tommy. He was our first deaf dog.
But I tell you...I could swear he was not deaf!! He would do something very naughty and then turn his head to look up at me, as I was yelling at him. Yeah, I yelled at him...we all did - me, the volunteers, and even Vince. We felt that the other dogs needed to know that we were reprimanding Tommy. Otherwise, they would have thought he was getting special treatment from us.
One of our volunteers even said that Tommy was the best listener. Oh goodness.
Tommy was always looking for food. He would get into our pantry and find the bagels and bread. He was always knocking over the trash. We had to make special adjustments because of Tommy!
Tommy and the seized dogs had been fed primarily spaghetti served in kiddy pools. With such a poor diet, he had mouthful of painful and infected teeth. He initially walked so slowly that I thought he was much older than 11 years old. We had our vet perform two very expensive dental surgeries on him. We also had him neutered, despite the fact that his previous owner insisted that he had been fixed!
With the pain from his teeth gone, Tommy started to act like a younger dog. He began to run and he built up the stamina to gallivant around our 10 acres with the other ranch dogs. It was so amazing to see his physical transformation.
Tommy initially had severe separation anxiety. He would clamor up the kitchen counter and attempted to break out the windows. He hated being alone, which his former owner verified.
Eventually, Tommy figured out that we would always come back. He learned our routine and he also sought comfort in sleeping next to the other ranch dogs, just as he had done with his sister.
Some dogs, like sweet Henry and Cozette didn't mind Tommy. But for the most part, Tommy managed to piss off the other dogs. He would purposely walk up to them and bark in their faces.
"Oh Tommy, stop that!", was a frequent stated phrase.
So when Tommy would fall sleep... it would be a relief for us. That dog .. kinda like my husband, Vince could fall asleep anywhere. In the grass. In the gravel. In the mud. Next to trailer tires. Next to horses in the pasture!
And if he was on a dog bed, it was always in a funky position!!So when Tommy would fall sleep... it would be a relief for us. That dog .. kinda like my husband, Vince could fall asleep anywhere. In the grass. In the gravel. In the mud. Next to trailer tires. Next to horses in the pasture!
And if he was on a dog bed, it was always in a funky position!!
Tommy was with us for nearly three years. He was born in 2010... so 14 years old this year. For a dog to go through so much trauma in his lifetime and still reach that age is pretty amazing.
But it never feels like we have enough time with these seniors dogs that we keep rescuing.
For the last 3 years of his life, Tommy was a Lucky One. It never seems long enough...but as Dr. Seuss said - "We can't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened".
I will miss hearing your bark and the sound of your bells as you walked around the ranch. And I will miss seeing you inside the barn. But I will not miss picking up your on your bed or the trail that you would leave behind you as you walked!
Tommy, please behave while you're running amok in Heaven with Henry. We know you're both knocking over trash cans and grabbing bagels and bread from old ladies.
Tommy’s Story
In August 2021, we heard about a dog hoarding case involving over 80 dogs seized by Riverside County Animal Services. These poor souls had endured unimaginable conditions, surviving on a diet of spaghetti served in large kiddy pools.
Among them was a deaf white dog, initially named “Gramps.” He moved with the weight of years, resembling an old, decrepit soul. Extensive media coverage showed him confined to a small crate or kennel, deprived of the space to move freely. When he arrived at our sanctuary, he could barely walk, his head hanging low in pain. That’s when we discovered his mouth was aching with infected teeth, coated in black plaque.
Years of confinement in cramped quarters had taken a toll on Tommy’s strength, and the spaghetti diet had painfully decayed his teeth. We gave him a new name - Tommy - and watched in awe as he flourished. Many of his painful teeth were removed, and Tommy’s transformation began.
After a few months of learning to keep up with the other sanctuary dogs, Tommy broke free from his shell. We even had his hearing tested, just to be sure, because there were moments when he seemed to respond to our calls. It turns out that Tommy had an uncanny way of understanding us despite his deafness!
These days, you’ll find Tommy in some unexpected places for nap time, sneaking into the pantry to steal bagels, and playfully chasing after his fellow furry companions (sometimes causing a bit of mischief, especially with Dodger).
Tommy’s journey is a testament to the incredible resilience of animals. If you’d like to be a part of Tommy’s ongoing journey, please considering being his sponsor.