Senior Florida Dog Stopped Barking And Began Crying Through His Most Confusing Nights
After being abandoned at a Florida shelter 15 years ago, Piper found the perfect family. Now, as he approaches his 17th birthday with new health challenges, his dad is making sure every single day is filled with love and comfort.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
Years ago, someone left a cardboard box outside an animal shelter in Jacksonville, Florida.
When the shelter employees arrived in the morning and opened the doors, they discovered the tragic contents.
Inside the box were two frightened dogs who had been completely abandoned.
One of those dogs was a sweet, timid boy who would eventually be named Piper.
Love At First Sight
Dennis Gerard happened to be at the shelter looking for a companion.
When he first met Piper, the two-year-old dog was incredibly skinny and severely malnourished.
Despite his rough condition, Piper bravely walked right over to Dennis.
“We hit it off right there,” Dennis recalled of their instant connection.
He knew immediately that he wasn’t leaving the shelter without the gentle dog.
Warming Up To A Real Home
The first few days in his new home were a massive adjustment for Piper.
He was understandably shy, unsure of what to make of Dennis, his wife, and their kids.
But the family showered him with patience, showing him nothing but affection.
“Once he understood that we weren’t going to hurt him, it was wonderful,” Dennis said.
Piper quickly blossomed into the ultimate family companion and Dennis’s self-proclaimed “best buddy.”
The Master Of Manipulation
As Piper grew comfortable in his new life, his clever personality began to shine.
He developed a hilarious habit of faking little injuries with his paw to get attention.
Knowing exactly how to play the system, Piper would lift his foot and act hurt.
Dennis happily played along, asking, “You okay? Can you put your foot down?”
“I fed the habit because it was so cute,” Dennis admitted, always rewarding the performance with a dog treat.
Facing The Golden Years
Time passed, and the bond between Dennis and Piper only grew stronger.
The dog who was rescued at two years old is now preparing to celebrate a massive milestone: his 17th birthday.
But with old age comes a series of difficult health challenges.
About a year ago, Piper lost all of his teeth.
Then, over the course of a year, his vision and hearing began to slowly fade away.
Mapping Out A Dark World
Knowing his best friend was going blind, Dennis took proactive steps to help him.
He spent time carefully training Piper to navigate the layout of their home.
He taught the senior dog exactly how to get from the bedroom to his food and water dishes, and out to the back door.
Less than two months ago, Piper’s world went completely dark.
But thanks to Dennis’s early training, Piper’s ability to walk around the house without hitting things remains absolutely amazing.
Navigating Doggy Dementia
On top of losing his sight and hearing, Piper was diagnosed with doggy dementia.
He often experiences “sundowning,” a condition where his confusion worsens at night.
“He’ll be walking and he’ll freeze and he’ll just sit there and not move, sometimes five to 10 minutes,” Dennis explained.
The dementia has also caused Piper to stop barking entirely.
Instead, he whines and cries at night, feeling scared and disoriented in the dark.
The Power Of Scent And Touch
To comfort his frightened friend, Dennis relies on the power of physical touch.
When Piper cries at night, Dennis simply pulls him close and holds him until he calms down.
Though he can’t see or hear, Piper’s sense of smell is still incredibly sharp.
When Dennis comes home from work through the garage door, Piper can smell him from the back of the house.
He will literally wake up from under a blanket and slowly walk through the house to greet his dad.
One Trick He Never Forgot
Despite the blindness, the deafness, and the dementia, Piper’s clever spirit remains intact.
He still remembers his favorite trick from all those years ago.
Even now, he will lift his paw and just stand there, faking an injury because he knows it will earn him a treat.
“I think about him all the time, and I am his whole world right now, and it’s big responsibility,” Dennis said.
For Piper, every single day is filled with the best healthcare, endless treats, and a dad who spoils him beyond imagination.
