Max was almost twelve years old.
They wanted to euthanize him. Not because he was doomed or there was nothing more that could be done for him, but simply because he had become a burden.
When the vet examined him, Max was still gently wagging his tail whenever someone spoke to him. There was still life in him. And above all, he still had so much love to give.
On that day, someone would thankfully decide that he deserved another chance.
Max and Henrique, a life spent side by side
Max had been raised by Henrique, an old mechanic who had taken in this black and tan puppy and had never parted with him afterwards.
The dog accompanied him everywhere. He traveled with him in an old van, slept near the boilers in the workshop, and followed his master through all stages of his life.
Then Henrique died of a stroke.
In a single night, Max’s entire universe collapsed.
The house was sold and the family divided the deceased’s belongings. As for the dog that the old man had loved so much, it suddenly became a responsibility that no one really wanted.
Two years spent moving from foster home to foster home
For two years, Max was passed from person to person, almost like a piece of furniture that no one wants to get rid of permanently, but that no one wants to keep either.
In one family, he was tied up in the yard because he shed too much. Another returned him after three weeks because he barked at night. Someone else simply complained that he walked too slowly.
Yet, every time a car door opened in front of him, Max gently wagged his tail on the seat.
With each new house, he seemed to believe that this time would be the right one. That this time, perhaps, he could finally stay.
The last family that took him in, however, had never really intended to keep him.
A visit to the vet that was supposed to be the last
One rainy morning, they put Max in the car and took him to a veterinary clinic.
They demanded that he be euthanized.
Not because he was dying. Not because his suffering was beyond help.
They simply didn’t want him anymore.
Max had started relieving himself inside the house. After lying down, he had trouble getting up. And the other dogs in the family were younger.
The veterinarian calmly asked if any tests had been carried out to rule out, in particular, an infection or arthritis.
The man shrugged.
He explained that Max was old and that they felt better with their other dogs.
But it was the remark whispered by the teenage son that truly chilled the room: living with Max had become too difficult.
The clinic staff remained silent.
A dog who, despite everything, continued to trust
Because the animal in front of them was neither dangerous nor considered a case without solution.
Max gently extended his grizzled muzzle towards the nearest hand, seeking a few caresses with his tired brown eyes.
Despite everything he had been through, he continued to trust humans.
Perhaps that was what made the situation so difficult to bear.
The tests finally revealed the origin of some of his difficulties: Max was suffering from a severe urinary tract infection that had not been treated, as well as advanced osteoarthritis of the hips.
It was painful, certainly, but these problems were treatable. His heart was strong and his lungs were healthy.
And every time someone spoke softly to him, his tail would still quietly sweep the ground.
There was still life in him.
There was always love.
The clinic therefore refused to proceed with euthanasia.
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