Meet Yogi - Click to Read Yogi's Story

Yogi had a good life. He lived with his sister in a big house, in a well-to-do neighborhood and he was happy. But he had lots of medical problems. His owner loved him but was having financial problems and decided he couldn't keep Yogi any longer. He made arrangements to surrender Yogi to Newfoundland Rescue. Yogi was 5 years old at the time.

I first met Yogi when I went to pick up another foster dog. He came into the waiting room and laid his head in my lap; his big brown eyes pleading for nothing more than a pat on the head. He was clearly sad. For a huge dog, his gentleness struck me at once and I couldn't stop thinking about him. I wished he was the foster I was taking home, but Yogi was to stay where he was with the Rescue chairperson.

Eight or nine months later, I got a call saying that the Rescue chair was moving and needed to find foster homes for the dogs she still had in her care and could I take one of them. When Yogi's name was mentioned I fairly shouted, "YES". He had never left my mind in all that time and I didn't have to think twice about taking him in.

When I picked him up, he had awful skin problems and severe arthritis. It looked like I had my work cut out for me. But the moment he stepped in my house, I knew he was here to stay.

Yogi's life was one of medical challenges. He lost an eye to a tumor at age 7. His orthopedic problems and arthritis slowed him down considerably, but none of those things daunted his spirit. Yogi took everything in stride and met new challenges with the great nobleness that only a Newf can have. His gentle ways endeared him to everyone he met.

Yogi is not here physically now, but he will always be in my heart to stay. Life would not have been complete without him. Yogi is home, where he belongs.