The first thing you will notice about Stroodle is that she is huge. She lives up to the size expectations of her St. Bernard breed, tipping the scales around 140 pounds. All who meet her see that her physical stature matches perfectly with the size of her heart. Gentle, loving, and sweet, Stroodle is a big ol’ teddy bear. This tender soul has suffered some terrible truths recently that remind us to never take forever for granted.
Stroodle Lost Her Human
Stroodle lived in loving companionship with an older gentleman for all of her life. Neighbors reported that the man was quiet and kept to himself but everyone around knew that he loved his dog. When he passed away unexpectedly late this summer, neighbors assumed that someone would come right away to retrieve Stroodle and take over her care. They were wrong.
When days passed and nobody came from Stroodle the neighbors came together to collectively care for her. They fed her and let her out and made she had water to drink. Eventually someone did show up, but they didn’t take Stroodle.
Movers Came to Pack the House and Leave Stroodle Behind
One day a moving van showed up. Workers busied themselves packing up the entire contents of the house. They carried furniture and boxed up belongings. The filled the truck while emptying the house. Imagine how confusing this must have been for Stroodle. Her human was gone. All of her human’s possessions were being carted out of the house. Surely someone would soon be taking her, too.
After the house was empty the workers drove away. They left Stroodle standing in the street. Alone. Understanding that Stroodle had been abandoned, neighbors safely delivered her to the Placer SPCA.
Diagnosed with Terminal Cancer
While living at the SPCA, someone found that Stroodle had a large lump. That lump turned out to be cancerous. Stroodle showed no signs of discomfort but the tumor is malignant and will ultimately lead to Stroodle’s demise. This wonderful bundle of love and comfort went from being a beloved companion to a homeless and terminally ill orphan. And it broke everyone’s heart.
