Some dogs leave paw prints on our hearts. Others come into our lives and somehow change the way we see the world.
Cody was one of those dogs.
When we rescued this sweet senior, he needed someone to show him that he was safe. His foster mom Rachelle did exactly that. She gave Cody a soft place to land, took him on adventures, and helped him learn that the world could be a good place.
Then Allison and Ron opened their home and hearts to him, and Cody didn’t simply find a family.
He found his second beautiful life.
It wasn’t nearly long enough. But what a life it was.
In Allison’s words, this is Grandpa Cody’s story. ❤️
Cody Says, “I Did It My Way!”
When I first saw Cody on the Labs & Friends Instagram, he instantly stole my heart. He was a senior who they pulled from the shelter because he was being bullied.
My husband Ron and I already had three large young rescues, and we thought, what’s one more? We need to protect this sweet senior.
Cody was being fostered by Rachelle, one of the Labs & Friends volunteers. She was teaching him what it is to have a safe space. She took him out on adventures, like toy shopping in local stores, so he could see that the world is a good place.
Rachelle brought Cody to our house so we could ensure that it would be a good fit. I was concerned that my young dogs might knock him over with their “overexuberant” play style
There was no need to worry! In the way that only dogs can understand one another, there was an instant understanding between the four.
I’m not sure what Cody (who we affectionately named Grandpa) said to the others, but within a few days, something was clear.
Grandpa Cody was the BOSS.
The way my crazy dogs deferred to Cody warmed my heart and made us laugh that Cody surely must have a little “mob boss” inside of him.
Cody ran all of us, to be honest. He liked to wake up at the crack of dawn, and if my husband and I were too slow to rise, he would treat us to his special “goose honk” bark that was equal parts startling and hilarious.
We woke up laughing literally every single day.
Cody thrived here.
He went from a dog who was rather standoffish to a dog that followed me from room to room. He snuggled with us in bed. He tried all the extra culinary delights my house had to offer, like blueberries, green beans, yogurt, and salmon off his dad’s plate.
Cody loved his walks. He came to love cruising the neighborhood with his pack mate Harrington, because Harry likes to give some of the fenced-in neighbor dogs a fair amount of guff.
Cody would do his beloved “skippity bop” walk (the result of an injury in his previous life) over to the fence to heckle alongside Harry, and his face always looked so proud to have a brother to carouse with.
He liked being in a gang!
And in the summer months, I led Cody through some sprinklers to show him how to cool off. How he loved that! Watching Cody joyously run through sprinklers is a cherished memory of ours.
I think my proudest moment with Cody was one day when I was walking him on Lake Avenue, the main street in Pasadena.
There was a woman seated outside a café, enjoying a sandwich. Cody walked right up, sat before her and waited for his share of her lunch.
I laughed so hard, and was overcome with joy at the realization.
Cody feels loved and confident.
Cody thinks everyone wants to share their sandwich with him.
He felt SAFE.
I was so filled with gratitude every day that we had Cody. My husband will tell you that while he was here, I said many times, “This is the happiest I’ve ever felt.”
Cody did that. He brought so much happiness and laughter into our home.
We did not have him long enough. But every single day was a blessing.
We decided we will always leave room in our pack for a senior, our way of honoring Cody.
Thank you Labs & Friends, for one of the greatest loves of our lives.
Love,
Allison and Ron Perlman
Forever Loved. Forever Remembered. 🌈
Somewhere over the Rainbow Bridge, we have a feeling Grandpa Cody is already running the place.
Thank you, Rachelle, for showing Cody that the world could be safe. Thank you, Allison and Ron, for giving our magical old man the second beautiful life he deserved.
You didn’t have nearly enough time, Cody. But you knew you were safe. You knew you were loved. And that means everything.
Run free, Grandpa. We have a feeling you’re doing it your way. ❤️