The Passing Of Major

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IIt is with heavy hearts that the staff of Destiny Big Cat Sanctuary must report the sad news of the passing of Major, a retired Mobility Assistance dog that has spent his retirement years at the sanctuary, at 4:10 pm (Human Time), on May 11th..

Victoria Canzonetta, met Major's charge, Eric Anfinson, while visiting Key West a few years ago. The incredible care and attention that Major gave Eric was the catalyst for Victoria and Eric's first meeting and conversation. A few years later, Eric called Victoria and asked a favor. It was time to retire Major, and Eric wanted to know if Major could spend his last years living on a big, open ranch, and just be a "dog". For all the years of around the clock, faithful service, Eric wanted Major to have some time to just be himself and not continue to try to assist him. Eric had just spent an incredible amount of money to have a hip replacement for Major to ensure that he could have a few years of retirement instead of being put down. After an adjustment period to ease their separation, Major arrived at Destiny Big Cat Sanctuary. It took a few months for Major to adjust from being a working service dog to a retired "old timer" at the peaceful ranch that we call home. However, he had a new best friend, PJ, a dobbie-rottie mix who was so happy to have a new companion. PJ taught Major a lot of new things; Like the best place to get into the sanctuary's pond for a nice swim, how to play (Which most working dogs don't know how to do), and how to hide coconuts under my bed so that they could be shredded in the night while I was asleep. I will miss getting up in the morning, and taking my first blind steps onto coconut shards spread all over my floor. In his time here, Major developed some of the wonderful skills that most of us who have dogs have come to love...such games as:

"In the Way"

"Underfoot"

"I've Scattered All Of My Toys All Over The Compound, Now Go Find Them So That I Can Do It All Over Again"

And... "I Rolled In Something Stinky, Now Give Me A Bath".

He also came up with a new one that we used to call "Block Traffic" ...everyone LOVED that one! While Major was here for his golden years, he would still try to work every once and a while. During the clean up after Hurricane's Katrina and Wilma, Major would watch the staff dragging branches and palm fronds to big piles as we cleaned up. It didn't take long before Major was dragging branches with us. Still thinking he was a young pup, Major would try to drag the heaviest branch he could find, and would struggle to drag it on his wobbly legs. Even when we would double back to help him out, he still insisted on carrying part of the branch that we ended up dragging anyway. Sometimes, while I was carrying tools to fix something on the compound, Major would pester me along the way until I gave him something to carry. Upon arriving at the repair site, I would turn to see an "empty mouthed" Major. It was as if half way there, Major remembered that he was retired, and just dropped the tool somewhere along the way. So I was off to try and find where Major left the tool as Tori or Kelley chirped away on the radio asking me if the repairs where finished yet. I'd swear that if Major could laugh, he would have as he watched me retrace our steps across the compound.

All of us have had great dogs...heck 99.999% of them just are. So, to try and claim that Major was better than any other dog that someone has loved would just be ridiculous and I would never dare to think or insinuate that he was. He was the best Major, and that's all that matters. Animals can teach us all so much...as long as we watch and listen. Major had a hip replacement. And while it enabled him to walk without pain, he still had a pretty good wobble to him. He fell. He fell A LOT. If PJ bumped into him, he fell. If Kelley's chihuahuas ran into him, he fell. If it was windy....he fell. However, he kept his happy face on, and just got back up again. Never once did he look around for help or pity. Animals don't ask for such things. They have a natural drive to just keep moving no matter what the problem is. They put their heads down, and push a little harder, that's all. Life is what it is, and there's no reason to sit around and mope about it. Major's charge Eric, was once a football player who suffered a catastrophic injury resulting in him being confined to a wheelchair. This never stopped Eric, who has gone on to live a very independent life, and without any prior training, has become an incredible artist. I sometimes wonder; who taught who to be so resilient?

As Major's health declined, Eric was consulted, and the decision to let Major pass with the dignity and respect that such a faithful and altruistic friend deserves was made. Major had reached the astonishing age of 14 years old, which is amazing for a large breed such as a Golden Retriever. He lived those years well, and over all was in remarkable condition, especially for his age. Arraignments were made to get Eric to the sanctuary, and for our veterinarian team to be there as well. Major had not seen Eric since he arrived here. Eric always feared that if Major were to see him, that Major would try to work again, or get upset. So as much as it pained Eric, he stayed away, and relied on our reports of Major's new life and well being. When Eric arrived, it was nothing but tears for the staff to see two old friends reunited. Major was SO happy to see Eric that he ran to him with speed that we haven't seen in a long time.

Many of Eric's close friends who could not be with him, gathered in Colorado, where Eric first came under Major's care, and another gathering was held in Key West, where Eric resides now. His friends that knew Major, and the impact that Major had on Eric's life, took time out of their day, to gather at the precise time that Major was laid to rest...sending their thoughts, their support, and sharing their memories across the miles. Imagine having such in impact on peoples lives that your life is celebrated and honored simultaneously across multiple time zones. I think that if you can achieve that in your lifetime, you're doing pretty good.

It has been the utmost honor of the staff and volunteers of Destiny Big Cat Sanctuary to have been Major's guides through his final years. We only hope that we gave as much to him, as he gave in his life to his dear friend Eric. We are so proud to have been his friends, his caretakers, and to be with him as he passed in such a loving way. In our hopes to help others, Eric and the staff of Destiny Big Cat Sanctuary have been trying to find out if a suitable group can use Major's arrificial hip for another dog who is in need and owner's cannot afford the sometimes astronomical cost of surgery or engineering of the titanium rod and ball joint. If this effort can change in any way, another dog's life, and the people who love them, then our goal is accomplished, and Major will continue to give to others as he did his entire life.

So long dear friend, until we meet again...

Job Well Done...

"The Reason A Dog Has So Many Friends Is Because He Wags His Tail Instead Of His Tongue"

(Aerosmith)