Roslyn had never seen a dog as close to the end as Elephant—and yet, somehow, he still had light in his eyes. Not just a flicker, but a fire. It was clear from the start: this old soul wasn’t done living.
Elephant had spent nearly 18 years with his original family in rural Manitoba, Canada. As his health began to decline, they made the heartbreaking decision to let him go. That’s when a rescue group stepped in, offering what they thought would be some comfort in his final days. But the moment they met him, they realized Elephant still had something left to give.
Team Dog Rescue reached out to Roslyn with a simple heads-up: “He might have about three weeks.” So Elephant made the long, two-day journey from Manitoba to Ontario, traveling with Rough Riders Transport.
When they finally arrived and introduced her as his new mom, Elephant didn’t hesitate. He locked eyes with Roslyn and gave her the biggest kiss, sealing their bond in an instant.
At that time, Elephant was in rough shape. He was nearly bald from the shoulders back, with no fur covering his raw, thinning skin. He was anemic and suffering from a large tumor in his prostate. He also had a tapeworm and could barely hold his weight.
But once he was neutered, something incredible happened: his tumors started to shrink, and before long, they vanished. His fur began to grow back. His strength returned. And he didn’t just stabilize—he started to thrive.
Elephant wasn’t fading away. He was fighting to live.
He took his meds without fuss, devoured his meals, and kept every bite down. His energy soared. Instead of slipping into his final days, Elephant was busy rediscovering joy.
He adored Roslyn’s other dogs, and they seemed to sense something special in him. Wherever he went, they gravitated toward him like he was their quiet leader. His gentle nature and unshakable calm made people smile everywhere he went.
Hydrotherapy became part of his routine, although Roslyn joked that Elephant had perfected the art of doing the least amount of work possible. “He’s very much mastered it,” she said with a laugh.
They even bought a home with him in mind—everything on one level, ramps for easier access, and a cozy fireplace where Elephant naps in peace. He enjoys two short walks a day and even rides in a wagon during summer trips so he can still be part of the adventure. Roslyn once worried he’d never gain weight. Now, she’s got a chunky old man on her hands, and she couldn’t be happier about it.
These days, Elephant is living the good life. He sleeps by the fire, rotates between three different dog beds, and is spoiled with more blankets than he can count. At around 20 years old and two years after he joined Roslyn’s family, he’s well past the time they thought he had left. Roslyn calls it “bonus time” because every moment is a gift.
“I just want him to feel safe,” she said. “He’s my forever Valentine.”
And as long as he’s still smiling, Roslyn will be right there beside him, loving him through every step of his beautiful second chance.