In June of 2004 I was so blessed when little an adorable little black and tan wirehair that was 11 years old came inot my life. She had been abandoned in a house when her family moved and was debarked, so had no way of letting people know she was there. She had a hard life in her 11 years. She had lived outside, didn't seem to know what being picked up and held was about, and sure didn't know what being in the house was all about. But that first night she climbed into bed with me and laid her head on my pillow, sighing with contentment. She learned to use the doggy-door, give kisses, enjoyed being held and rocked at times, and hated it when I was away from her.
Her breathing was stressed however, and we went to the vet who informed us that she had a grade three heart murmur and congestive heart failure from poor care in her past life. With daily medication and care my little angel stayed with me until December 2nd of this year. She had to go through surgery last October for a collapsed trachea from the terrible surgery she had in her past where she was debarked and not properly cared for afterward.
Aiko was full of life and she had 5 1/2 happy years after I got her. I wouldn't trade a day of that time with her for a younger, healthier dog. No matter how short our time was together, it was a blessing and I will carry her in my heart forever.