The Birthday That Wasn't Supposed To Be.

 

At the first vet appoinment I took Harvey to, the vet warned me "Expect 10 years at the outmost for a Pyrenees cross giant breed dog". That wrorried me as we were already almost a year into his life. Kerouac lived to see 15 and I felt that that was still not long enough. How would 10 feel. Anyways, we went through life keeping him as happy and healthy as I could. He had a big appetite and put on wight quickly. One winter we had to get him down 15 pounds and we did it in 6 months. It was a big journey but his health depended on it. 

He had joint issues and developed arthritis in the knee he had surgery on. Plus, he was just damn big. I fed him good food and looked after his health but that 10 year timeline always weighed heavy on my mind.

We got to his 10th birthday and he was still doing well. We had gotten past the knee surgeries and bone infections and things looked good. He was slower but we still walked 2 or 3 hours a day. He was also outdoors any chance he could. My boy was doing ok. 

We got to his 11th birthday in February of 2024 and needed to celebrate. I got helium birthday numbers for him and spoiled him with presents and brunch at Red Beard the day before.I asked some friends to come and celebrate with us at Red Collar. Despite Rio's bad hips Bevin brought him. My neighbours came with a couple of their freinds and their dogs. There was about 15 people a 4 dogs. It was exactly what I wanted to do to celebrate the birthday he wasnt supposed to have.