Like many shelter dogs Riley's birthday has been lost.   The 9 years seen above is an estimate made by his veterinarian based on general health , teeth & gums etc.       This is what Riley looked like when we got him from the shelter back around August of 2013.

      I do not know if his prior owner just abandoned any thought of grooming him or if perhaps Riley lived on the streets by himself for sometime.   Hard to guess.

      He really cleaned up well out at the Dog Spa.   Here he is after a bath, and haircut.

      Riley LOVED to ride in the car.   All one had to do was ask : "Riley, want to go for a ride in the car ?" and he would be at the door jumping, spinning around and wagging his tail !   In the car he would stand watching the world go by.   Of course he would bark furiously at any dog seen in passing.   Odd tho, he would completely ignore the flock of geese that would land in the nearby pond.

      But the fun was not to last.   He was diagnosed with a non-curable form of cancer (lymphoma) which did not respond to chemotherapy.   We could only watch as his health deteriorated.

      Finslly, I asked : "Riley wanna go in the car ?".   He struggled to his feet, walked to the door and wagged his little tail.   I lifted him up to the seat of the car where he stood and watched the world go by.   He remained thus for only about 4 blocks - then he laid back down and slept as we headed to the vet hospital.       His suffering was ended at 03:30 the afternoon of Dec. 19th 2015.   Knowing that we made the most humane decision possible did not make it any easier.

We miss you Riley

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