Better together
Yin and yang – opposite but interconnected. That’s our dogs Rex and Harvey. Though they found each other just a year ago, they are brothers for life, and better together.
Young Rex is puppy-like and playful with a bit of a mischievous side. He’s lithe and athletic, with a small frame and short, straight fur. But despite being spirited and energetic, when we first got Rex he was nervous around new people, maybe because of his experiences as a street dog in Mexico. He’s hypersensitive to sounds and often on alert.
We’d had Rex for about a year when Harvey came our way. Unlike Rex, Harvey’s large frame lumbers slowly. His coat is long with beautiful curls. The opposite of Rex in nearly every way, Harvey is an arthritic senior who instantly loves everyone. Harvey has never met a stranger.
Harvey’s surprise arrival
Harvey was 14 years old when he arrived at our house for what was intended to be a very short stay. A rescue group had lined up a different foster home for Harvey, but the volunteer who was going to take him in was suddenly hospitalized. Harvey’s family couldn’t keep him any longer and he needed an immediate place to go. We assumed Rex’s energy would be too much for Harvey, but were happy to give him a port in the storm for a few days until a more suitable foster home was found.
The next day, a transport volunteer drove Harvey to our house. He was incredibly stressed and seemed to be in pain when he walked. Harvey is arthritic and deaf, and at that moment he surely felt terrified and vulnerable.
We decided we’d keep Harvey and Rex separated while inside, but cautiously introduced the two dogs outdoors. Rex was a perfect gentleman, seeming to sense that Harvey was anxious and scared. It was the first indication that Rex could read and react perfectly to Harvey’s emotions.
Over the coming days, we gradually integrated the two dogs. As far as we know, Harvey hadn’t had another dog in his previous family, so living with Rex must have been a whole new experience. And as far as we know, Rex had never been around an elder. Those were among the many reasons why we thought they wouldn’t work together.
None of that mattered. They fit together like peanut butter and jelly.
Rex’s favorite thing to do is play with other dogs – chasing, wrestling, rolling around – he loves it all. But he didn’t mind one bit that Harvey has physical limitations. Rex instinctively knew that Harvey isn’t able to run and roughhouse, but it didn’t matter. They quickly developed their own way of playing. Rex rolls on his back to handicap himself, and Harvey stands above him, making loud “ROAR!” noises. They nuzzle, then gently tap each other, Harvey’s stiff legs barely moving off the ground, both dogs having a blast.
For his first year with us, Rex was our only dog, and we were fully focused on him. Harvey, with his special needs, required a lot of our attention, but Rex didn’t show the least bit of jealousy. He seemed thrilled with the new arrival, looking at us as if saying “Oh good, you got me a dog!”
The rescue group called after Harvey had been with us for a couple weeks. They hadn’t yet found another foster home and wondered if he could stay longer. We were happy to keep Harvey in our home, and in time we all decided that Harvey was right where he was meant to be, and that he should stay with us forever.
Addressing Harvey’s challenges
Integrating Harvey into our home and family felt right, and any challenges were smoothed out by the sweetness and sensitivity that Rex showed Harvey. We quickly realized that Harvey has separation anxiety. At first, if he was even in a different room from us, he would panic and wail. Hearing Harvey in distress, Rex would rush to his side to comfort him.
Rex is always watching out for Harvey and making sure his needs are met. Harvey needs support when going up the back steps, and if for some reason we aren’t right there when he’s ready to go in he gives us a bark, his way of saying “Can you give me a boost, please?” Rex runs to alert us, as if saying “Harvey needs help – hurry!”
In the beginning, nights were especially hard for Harvey, and for months, he’d spend at least part of the night anxiously pacing. We tried everything to help him calm down. A few things seemed to help a bit, but in the end, Harvey came up with the solution. Instead of sleeping in his own bed, which is just inches from Rex’s, he starts each night alongside Rex, often even matching Rex’s sleeping position.
Harvey’s other big obstacle was the car. We noticed that he would tremble and shake when we drove somewhere, but he was calm on the drive home. We realized Harvey wasn’t afraid of the car – he was worried about being left behind before we returned home. The solution wasn’t a pill or a training method. We didn’t need any extra help because we had sweet Rex. He began lying right next to Harvey in the car to comfort him, and in time, Harvey began to love the car. Eventually he built up the skills to join us on a two-day road trip – with his best buddy Rex by his side for every mile.
Happiest together
Although Rex adored Harvey and helped him immensely, their relationship was not one-sided. Harvey helped Rex, too. Rex, always nervous around anyone new, began mirroring Harvey when greeting new people. Watching Harvey excitedly approach a stranger, Rex would realize they weren’t a threat. He’d shyly approach, too, and he gradually built up his social skills by following the example of extroverted Harvey.
Rex added to his pool of human and canine friends, but it was very clear that he loves no one the way he loves Harvey. Before Harvey came along, we’d often bring Rex to dog daycare to play for a few hours. He needed an outlet for his energy. But after Harvey joined us, Rex made it obvious that he’d rather stay home, not wanting to be apart from his brother for even a short time.
Rex and Harvey bring out the best in each other. Two very different peas in a pod, they support each other in every way possible. From the beginning, they had an unbreakable bond. The graybeard and the excitable boy – their connection offers a lesson in friendship, compassion, and love.
Un update on the World Cup dogs
A few months ago, I wrote about how how the Moroccan government is killing thousands — or possibly millions — of dogs in preparation for the 2030 World Cup. (You can read the blog here.)
The International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition recently called out FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) for ignoring the mass slaughter of dogs, accusing them of “moral failure” and pressuring FIFA president Gianni Infantino to act.
The story has been gaining media attention, and numerous celebrities have been calling for change. It remains to be seen if the increased pressure will have any effect.
The Humane Society of Morocco has content and videos regarding the situation. Click here if you’d like to read or follow their account of the situation on Instgram.