Daja: Old Dogs Don’t Need New Tricks

Written by Frank Kohlenstein

Shared with permission from the author.

As I write this short note about Daja my heart is broken, my body aches, and my eyes are filled with tears, we wake this morning without a dog living in our household for almost 40 years. Daja was different in that we chose an older dog to adopt, she was 10 and a 80-pound Pit Bull that was being well cared for at the Foothills Animal Shelter. Deb and I fostered her for the Thanksgiving holidays and then decided all we needed as a Christmas present was to add Daja to our family on a permanent basis. We did knowing full well we would not have her for long, we got almost 3 years but oh what a wonderful three years it was!

The main reason for this post is to help others realize these seniors are a great choice. Daja enjoyed every day with us until the end and brought so much joy to everyone she interacted with teaching them about the huge heart and kindness of both senior dogs and the Pittie breed.

Many people when first seeing her might have been intimidated but then saw her smile and got to snuggle with her on one of her many couches, then they would melt when that huge head was laying on their shoulder. The senior dog appreciates the chance they are receiving with a new chapter, they don’t need a lot of training and they always win the argument about who loves who more!

Daja had been at the shelter for a bit and Deb and I had taken her for a few slow walks before we fostered her but at that time we had no idea how much personality she would bring to 3 different homes stretching from Arkansas to Colorado.

So yes I have lost a special member of our family who was all about sharing kindness, joy, love, and gratitude but by having her by our side, she has improved our lives by having more of these qualities that we need so much of today. So yes I am heartbroken, my body aches and my eyes are full of tears. Daja has taken a piece of my heart but she left me a chunk of hers and my life and everyone she touched will be better for it.

I will work to be a person that Daja would appreciate because I know already she won Who Loved Who More and yes I am so glad we adopted that beautiful senior American Pit Bull mix that squeezed 13 years of love into 3. Daja you are a queen in this house and in the House of the Purple Bears!