“Welcoming an elderly dog into your home can be an incredibly rewarding journey” ~ Oahu SPCA.
When an enchanting dog named Pirate showed up at the Oahu SPCA, located in Wahiawa, Hawaii, years ago, none assumed she would linger there for nearly ten years.
Weeks, months, and years went by, yet Pirate continued to reside in her small kennel at the shelter. The sole alteration was her appearance, which gradually turned gray with age.
Seven years slipped by and not a soul inquired about meeting her – until one unexpected day.
Introducing The Affectionate Pirate Marie
“Pirate’s main challenge was her age. People tend to shy away from adopting older dogs, believing they’ll entail more effort,” Amanda Villeme, Executive Director at Oahu SPCA, stated to The Dodo.
While the shelter never lost faith in her, after numerous years without a home, Pirate slowly began to lose hope.
It was evident in her expression that she was disheartened and despondent. Life was wearing her down.
Little did she realize that her existence was on the verge of a significant transformation, all due to one woman.
Jennifer Shaffer and her spouse, Dennis, relocated to Hawaii for their jobs. Both are in the military, and Jennifer was fortuitously assigned to Hawaii.
They both concurred that adopting a dog wasn’t on their immediate agenda, so Jennifer began searching for different shelters to volunteer at because of her deep love for animals.
That was when she stumbled upon a photo of Pirate.
“I spotted this one [dog] that was quite old. Her face was entirely gray. She had the most adorable ears that stuck out. She instantly began to win my heart,” Jennifer expressed.
The next day, Jennifer visited Pirate.
The shelter was utterly stunned that after so many years, someone finally showed up to inquire about this elderly girl. “Our Pirate?” they questioned.
“They were in total disbelief that anyone was there to ask about Pirate because I guess no one [had],” Jennifer remarked.
Their astonishment reveals just how much this poor girl was neglected over the years.
The Beginning Of A Beautiful Life
Jennifer’s heart shattered at the thought of Pirate spending all those years in loneliness and sorrow at the shelter. At the time, Pirate was 11 and a half years old.
She understood right away that she would do anything to bring her joy.
That first evening she met her, Jennifer bought Pirate her first ever toy and a cozy bed. From that moment forward, their remarkable bond blossomed.
“She’s the dog that nobody wanted, and she won me over straight away.”
Regrettably, since Jennifer was new to the island, she hadn’t found a home yet, so she couldn’t bring Pirate back just then.
For the ensuing two months, Jennifer visited the shelter daily to see Pirate. She arrived before work and stayed after work. Not a single day was skipped.
Finally, after two months, they were able to bring Pirate home, and everyone was elated that this was occurring at last.
Pirate finally had the opportunity to spend her remaining years with a caring family… her family!
A dog that was once so miserable and forlorn quickly transformed into this affectionate and spirited companion… puppy-like, almost.
She exhibited more and more puppy-like behavior with each passing day. “Old lady baby” became her new nickname at home.
Since arriving at her new abode, Pirate has experienced numerous firsts.
At 11 years old, she experienced lounging on a sofa for the first time, a beach visit, her first zoomies, and the joy of celebrating birthdays, Christmases, and numerous other occasions.
Pirate, The Guardian Angel
“It was the most rewarding and fulfilling experience knowing that we changed her life. What she needed, and what I suspect she desired, was a family. Witnessing the transformation in her life is what transformed our lives,” Jennifer shared.
For the following two years, Pirate enjoyed the best life imaginable.
She was her Mommy’s puppy soulmate and her Daddy adored her immensely.
It fills me with immense joy to know that she departed this world after having felt love and being loved unconditionally.
Pirate Marie passed away a day prior to her pawrents’ wedding, but her Mommy had the perfect guardian angel alongside her on her special day.
Her Mom continues to honor her memory on Instagram: @pirate_marie. If you truly wish to understand what true love feels like, I highly encourage you to check out her account.
“She was the best girl… she was genuinely my soul girl,” Jennifer concluded.