This is a story about animal abuse, neglect, love, and survival. This is Lakey’s story.

Back on March 3, 2019, Craig and I decided on a whim to go look at a house that was for sale. We were not looking to move but fell in love with the pictures we saw online. We were ready to wrap up the tour and as the broker walked us through the barn, he pointed to a dark corner and said, “And that’s Lakey.” I wondered what a “Lakey” was but in the pit of my stomach, I knew it was an animal. I was terrified at what I would see. Craig and I walked over and peered inside the 12x12’ room. It dark and smelled like it hadn’t been cleaned in years. All of a sudden Lakey came running full speed and put his front paws up on the boards to give us kisses. Lakey was the resident Saint Bernard. Craig and I spent a few minutes with Lakey. Petting him and talking to him. I still remember the way he looked at us. It broke my heart. I wonder how many people looked at him and wrote him off.

A little background info, I am the biggest animal lover you will ever meet. I don’t eat meat or dairy, I cannot watch movies where animals die or suffer, I tear up every time a drive past a deer on the side of the road. But Lakey stuck in my heart. Craig and I made an offer on the house.

When we wrote up the offer, I asked about Lakey, unsure if I wanted to know the answer. The broker suggested we talk to the owner. At this point, Craig had to take over. I couldn’t bring myself to be part of those conversations. The owner, we will call him Jerry, said he would be back to pick up Lakey at a later date, once they settled into their house down south.

During one of our visits to the house, Jerry told us the story of Lakey. Lakey was purchased from a breeder as a Christmas gift for their three boys (or four, I don’t remember and I don’t really care). All of the family’s friends had Saint Bernards, so they wanted one too. Lakey started to get bigger and became “too large” to be inside the house (which is by no means small). So they chained him up the silo. He stayed there through the freezing winters and hot summers for several years. Jerry said that many of their friends threatened to report him for animal abuse, but Jerry said he was doing what was right for Lakey.

A few years ago, they decided to bring Lakey into the bottom of the barn. They made a small room and the boys were responsible for caring for Lakey. Lakey’s room was in the same area of the barn where the family raised and skinned rabbits (which we were told they were “not good at”). Lakey lived in that dark, disgusting room all alone. More horrible things happened to Lakey but I think I chose to block those out.

When we asked about vet records, how much he eats, if he’s up to date on his vaccinations, and various other questions, things started to unwind. We were told Lakey was probably around 8 years old but Jerry had no idea about his birthday. Jerry said Lakey was up to date on vet care as of 4 years ago (what?!) and that every few days, they give him a few scoops of food. I distinctly remember Jerry saying not to worry if we go out of town for a while since Lakey only needs to be fed every few days (again, what?!).

Finally, May 17th came. We closed on the house and from that moment forward, I became Lakey’s mom. He became part of our family. I knew we would never see Jerry again. They left and never looked back, abandoning Lakey with total strangers, and thank God they did. When we brought the first load of our stuff to the house, the first thing we did was go see Lakey and tried to walk him around the pond. Lakey wanted nothing to do with that walk. All he wanted to do was lay on his back and have his belly rubbed. He should have been scared. He should have not trusted us. He should have missed Jerry, but no. He knew. Craig knew. I knew. We were his people. He had been waiting 8 years for us. He never had to be alone again.

That day, we opened up Lakey’s room to give him free rein to the lower part of the barn. He refused to go back into his room. The next day, Craig and I put up a fence and gave Lakey free reign to a huge backyard. I don’t think he went back to the barn for several days. That weekend, Craig’s family came to visit. Craig and his brother, Mike, cleaned the barn, top to bottom. They shoveled out at least a foot of gross stuff from Lakey’s room and hosed down the entire thing. We cut the softball-sized mats from his coat, bathed him, and gave him his first bone. We gave Lakey a little pool, tons of toys, new food and water dishes, and everything else the big guy could want. Mike’s dog, Bear a big black lab, even taught Lakey how to be a dog. They went into the pond and ran around together. Lakey started to love life.

We had a vet come visit Lakey and give him a good haircut. Surprisingly, Lakey was completely healthy, but his hips were starting to go. The vet said he may not be with us for too much longer since the hips on very large breed dogs are often the first to go. But as with our other pups, those timelines don’t mean much, just ask Baily who was given 3-6 months to live over three years ago.

We did everything we could to make the next year of Lakey’s life the best we could. We fell in love with that guy. He snuck his way into our hearts. Lakey was a true gentle giant. He made so many friends with the neighbors, family, friends, and the Jazzercise ladies. He was quite the lady’s man! If you had the honor of meeting Lakey, you know what I mean.

About a month ago, Lakey hurt his back leg. It was healing and doing quite well, until one evening, he was playing with his 5-gallon buckets (which was funny to watch!) and tripped on one, hurting his front shoulder. Pain pills and anti-inflammatories helped for a bit, but the compensation he had to put on his already injured hips was too great. Standing and walking became difficult but getting up was nearly impossible. Lakey stopped eating and could not sit still for more than a few minutes showing his pain. Lakey’s health took a turn for the worse a week ago. From that point, we made sure to spend as much time with him as possible. Lots of popsicles, hot dogs, and tacos! We did everything we could to help him heal, but in the end, he was tired. He was in too much pain.

On Monday, Craig and I, along with our other three pups, sat with him under the oak tree. He laid in my lap, which he never did before, and just laid still. He looked up at me for what seemed like an eternity, then looked at Craig. He knew. It was his time. And he told us it was okay.

The next afternoon, after being unable to stand or eat, the vet came out to the house. Again, under the oak tree, we laid with Lakey and gave him all the love we could. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny. It was peaceful. It was the perfect way to say goodbye. We took Lakey for one last ride around then pond and told him we would see him again someday.

He was a good boy. He lived a long, hard life mostly alone. We were not looking to buy a new house, but something drew us to this particular one, and now I firmly believe that it was Lakey. If there is one thing I know for sure, he was more loved in the last year of his life than some dogs are loved in their entire lifetime. If feels like it was too soon, after all, he was only with us for a little over a year. But that was enough to teach me about love, life, and overcoming the odds. He taught me to be a better person and that I am capable of much more than I thought. He gave me the courage to help other dogs and to always be their voice. All he needed was love. In the end, Lakey taught me that sometimes, it turns out, that love is enough.

Rest in peace Lakey. You will never be alone. You will never be forgotten.

Peace, Love & Kale,

Lindsay