This is my hardest #projectgooddog blog post I have had to write because this one is my own dog.

Oliver came into our lives 5 years ago (this week was actually his 5 year gotcha day).  He was a rather spur of the moment "I want to foster a dog".  I remember vividly waking my husband up early in the morning after he did a night shift and asking if we could foster this dog I saw on facebook.  I don't know why, but something about this dogs face just got me.  He agreed and before he was even awake, Oliver was home. 

He was so broken.  We will never know what happened to him or how old he was but his body and his behavior where not normal.  He had a hip injury, he was skinny and he was so scared.  We could not pet him...be did not cuddle.  He did however have this smile that could met a heart and eyes that where bluer than the sky. 

A few days later the rescue had him in for FHO surgery (removed the ball head of his hip) to relieve the pain he was having.  We picked him up from the vet and that was the moment we knew he would not be leaving us.  We fell in love with this broken old man.

He survived his surgery and his next hurdle was finding out he was also heartworm positive.  Keep in mind he was between 6-9 years old at this point and age was a factor.  Once again, he beat the odds and survived the treatments.

Our 5 years with this boy where a roller coaster.  He was destructive from anxiety, he talked back like a husky, he peed in the house regularly from stress (and it STANK), sometimes that pee was in the water bowl, he was a medical mystery for so many ailments, he walked through hallways backwards, he escaped our yard over and over (even daycare once).  We joked that he was our Sheldon Cooper.  He wanted his spot on the couch, his routine and only came to us for pets on his terms. 

Oliver was also the sweetest, kindest old man.  He loved puppies.  Anytime we had a foster or brought him for rescue photo shoots...he fell in love.  He learned to love people and kids.  Never showed aggression at all.  If you took the time to know him and sit with him...he would even cuddle.  If you tried to stop he would yell at you. 

Oliver was the last of my "pack".  My boys who welcomed so many other fosters into our home.  He taught us so much about loving senior dogs that would usually be overlooked.  In the last 3 years we had to say goodbye to them all.  Jax, Tanner and Elroy. 

For quite some time now Oliver was suffering from Dementia like issues and joint problems probably from age.  This week the decision was made to stop his suffering and let him join the other boys over the rainbow bridge.  A decision that never gets easier and still weighs on our hearts.  Monday morning we went to Maple Grove puppy play area and let him run.  This was his happy place.  It was cold and it was so hard to take photos through the tears, but I had to.  I wanted my youngest to have preserved memories of Oliver happy and smiling before we let him go.  This was what #projectgooddog was started for.

Thank you to all of you who supported our family this past week and all of our pups over the years.  Thank you to Corey Bartley of Dakota Vet for always being by our sides.  Thank you to Manitoba Underdogs Rescue for saving this boys life 5 years ago. 

Rest in peace my sweet GoodDog.  We will never forget you and we will keep your spot open on the couch.