Adopt a Labrador Retriever

On the heels of losing our sweet Gladys just weeks ago, we promised to follow up with some more information about her heartbroken son, Elvis.

Some of you may recognize Elvis from previous postings, but read on to learn a little more about what this soulful fellow has been dealing with recently. For those of you from other parts, Mississippi is the birthplace of American music, and Elvis Presley is one of her most favored sons. Presley had a hardscrabble upbringing in rural Mississippi - not so different from this fine dog - but he remained connected to his roots by his doting mother, Gladys. In the late 50s, as Presley began his meteoric rise to fame, Gladys fell ill and passed at the untimely age of 46. Here again, the parallels to our Elvis's story are heartbreakingly similar.

Elvis was rescued in 2009 - yes, nearly SIX years ago - along with a female dog that we believe was his mother. We named them Gladys and Elvis to signify their special bond; Gladys had tended to Elvis even after he'd lost sight in his left eye at a young age. The two were inseparable, and Elvis was distraught when complications from an infection took Gladys's leg. But even down one leg and one eye, this tough little family soldiered on, happy to have the company of one another and a roof over their head at ARF.

Knowing the strength of this bond, we were even more concerned than usual when we found a growth on Gladys's neck in late 2014. The growth was promptly removed, but years of hard living seemed to catch up to this sweet, 10-year-old girl. She had trouble healing in the months following the surgery, a fact that made more sense when we realized that the cancer had returned. Her good-natured demeanor remained, but it was clear that she was nearing the end of her road. Gladys enjoyed a beautiful final day in early February, laying in the warm Mississippi sun and leisurely watching the birds in a nearby park.

Much like his namesake, our sweet Elvis was devastated. We've made certain to give him lots of interaction with new friends in an effort to keep his spirits high, but we can't provide him with the one thing he truly needs: a family. He is a medium-sized dog that is full of cuddles and playfulness -- at roughly 7 years old, he definitely does not act his age smile emoticon Elvis is a sweet, friendly dog that needs a freshstart, and we know that the right forever home is out there. If you're looking to provide a new lease on life for one of our most deserving seniors, we'd be happy to provide more information about Elvis. And even if you're not ready to adopt, please consider coming to visit this handsome hound dog today -- he needs all the loving he can get.