If you happen to have a dog in your life, you realize what a beautiful companion they can be. Having a dog means different things to different people, but it always means having love in your life.

There are also lots of different thoughts on how you could bring a dog into your life, but one of the most noble is to get one at the local shelter. That is especially true if it is a senior dog, as they are often overlooked.

When you look into the eyes of one of those older shelter dogs, you realize that they must’ve had a very difficult time. One person who understood this very well is Nanette, because she recently lost Stan and George, two senior dogs that were a big part of her life.

From the beginning, we realize that dogs are going to grow older and eventually pass away, but nothing can really prepare you for the emotions you feel during that time. There are also two schools of thought, with some eager to bring a new dog into their life and others who avoid it.

In the case of Nanette, a rescuer got in touch with her and told her about a senior dog at a kill shelter in California. She didn’t need much convincing because they only sent a photo of him, and her heart was all in.

She told her husband that she was going to the shelter to meet Ralphie and she knew that she had to bring him home. She said that their first meeting was ‘interesting’.

Although Ralphie was taller than Stan and George, he did appear smaller because he had a humpback. He also had large ears and a left micro eye. Another thing that was a little concerning is that he was afraid of being around humans.

When Nanette or her husband tried to pet him, he would make himself smaller and fall to the ground. It was almost as if he was afraid he was going to get hit and that is when she realized that Ralphie must have lived a difficult life.

It didn’t keep her from loving the senior dog, because she provided him with the care he needed and even had some of his teeth extracted. She tried to show him that it was possible to have love in his life, and eventually, he learned not to be afraid.

At one point, Nanette took Ralphie to a party and there were other dogs around. One of the dogs wanted to play with Ralphie and started barking. Nanette was carrying him at the time, and he let out a beautiful, long howl.

Nanette began to tear up because she had never seen him interacting, and he was singing beautifully. Over the years, Nanette and her husband continued to care for him and are working to help him regain both his trust and his strength.

You can learn more about this beautiful dog in the following video: