I got Monk a little over 3 years ago from Dogs Unlimited Rescue.
He had just been taken in by one of their fosters.
The previous owner had just brought Monk into one of their adoption events and turned him over saying their daughter was allergic.
They had had him since a puppy and he was 7 years old.
If you know anything about St Bernards, they are very devoted to their families.
He was in bad shape needing numerous washings apparently had been kept outside.
He was also heart worm positive!
I told them I wanted to meet him and fell in love immediately.
(Never thinking about being in my late 60's at the time and Monk out weighed me by 30 lbs!!)
He was so depressed when I got him, he didn't want to even eat. Also the antibiotic they were giving him was making him nauseated.
I cooked for him for 2 weeks.
The tummy diet:
Chicken, white potatoes, sweet potatoes and a leek, boiled.
It worked.
Here is a picture of the day I met Monk.
I took Rocky to meet him and they got along fine.
So that was it. I think I fostered him for a month, then adopted him.
I didn't think anyone would adopt him because he was heart worm positive and it's very expensive to put a 164lb dog through the treatment!
He did fine though.
Keeping him quiet through the treatment was no problem because they aren't exactly the most active dogs especially at his age of 7 . . . a real senior for a Saint.
His other problem was that he had terrible skin allergies. They would flare up in the spring and fall so I had him tested. He had both inside and outside allergies.
They made up his own special allergen concoction and I game him two injections every 10 days the whole time he was with me. Winter, of course was his best time.
This last year his arthritis caught up with him and he developed a lot of weakness and pain in his hind quarters. He was on meds for that also.
Unfortunately it started affecting the nerves and he was losing the use of his back legs and some other bodily functions.
He was the gentlest and kindest dog I have ever had.
He was very stoic and brave. Never did he so much as utter a growl.
He was such a good boy.
He'd "woof" at the cats but they didn't pay much attention to him as he couldn't move fast.
He loved children and everyone else he met.
The last 6 months, the thing he loved the most was this rubs he got in the evening. He wouldn't let me forget. He'd sit up and look at me and if that didn't do it he'd make a little whimper till I sat down next to him on the floor and gave him his massage.
I'm sure it helped him to sleep.
Here are a few pictures during the 3 years he was in my care.
I'm going to miss him so much.
Yes, while he could, he preferred the couch!
Snow!! His favorite time!
They're the nanny dog, you know.
Run free big guy.
The house seems so empty tonight.
Shirley
