Norm's Story -- From Rescue to Service Dog

Editor’s Note: This is an absolute must-read for every animal lover out there. For those of you who — like me — consider your four-legged friends very important members of your family, you will relate to this guest post from one of our very special Care2 members, Bill. Bill shared his home and his life with his beloved Norm, a Shepherd/Lab mix, for 14 years, each helping the other through countless struggles and adversities. Bill bid farewell to his dear friend last month, and wrote this touching post in dedication to Norm and their “14 year companionship of love.”

By Bill C.

I recently had to put my best friend and companion Norm down; he was 14 yrs old and I guess a misfit from the start. A person bred a Black Lab to sell the puppies. When they were born, the litter had 11 pups, but 2 were not Lab. They looked like German Shepherds. The neighbor beside these people had a pedigree German Shepherd.

The humans decided the 2 Shepherds were “not sellable” and did nothing to care for them: no shots, no worming, and even moved the 2 “misfits” from the mama’s nipples till all the sellable pups were full. I rescued Norm and 4 days after I got him he developed maternal Parvo because the humans removing him from the breast milk stopped him for getting protection from his mother.

I was faced with a decision. Because of life’s circumstances, I was very poor at that point and could not immediately pay a large bill. The vet said he would accept $10 a month because I was such a good customer for 30 years and he knew I would pay the bill. After a week in the hospital my little buddy came home very sick, but alive and on the road to recovery. That started a 14-year-companionship of love.

Over the next few years I was given a diagnosis for a condition that has no cure. I was going to loose the use of my hands, arms and legs. I would end up as I am today, in braces with artificial joints and bones. Before this happened, Norm was trained as an assistance/service dog by trainers from K-9 Cops, Military and myself. He was a quick learner.

Norm was so good at what he did that when I started having deep muscle breakdown from my illness, Norm was trained to sniff out the area before it became a serious problem. I have had 9 surgeries on my legs or feet totally because a dog sniffed, sat and alerted something was wrong. The first time the orthopedic surgeon said he was very uncomfortable doing deep muscle surgery based on a dog’s opinion, but with my instance, he did the first exploratory surgery and Norm was right.

Fact is, Norm was always right.

For the next 14 years, as I got worse and was often recovering from surgery, Norm was my hands and helper. He could get the phone, open the door, pick-up bandages and put them in the trash, pick up my medicine bottles, but the most important thing he did was give me life.

I write this for all to read because we often forget what an animal can do for a human and what a human can do for an animal. I saved Norm from Parvo and he saved me back.

There are no words to express my grief and loss.

I think what Norm deserved was life, but what he would want all to know is he had a very good life. He had a job and as much love as any person and dog can share. He had a friend who, when it came down to it, put Norm above all else.

Remember Norm when you think about getting an animal. You never know what the little sickly rescued pup will turn out to be.

Give them love and share your life. In the end there will be much pain and sadness, but there is also the story, like Norm’s story, full of richness and life because of a simple act of rescue.

If you choose, please note this story, just for Norm and all those alone humans and animals whose life can be so changed when they are just put together.

I Love you Norm, I always will.

photo credit: Bill C

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

lis G.

9:43PM PDT on Mar 25, 2012

When we have a four legged best friend we know that in all likelihood, we will one day be grief stricken and heart broken. Yet for the time that they are with us, we share the love, the loyalty, the fun and the joy that they bring us.

I am sitting here with tears washing down my face. What a wonderful, moving tribute to your lovely Norm. May memories of your times together sustain you.

send a green star

Sonny H.

7:24AM PDT on May 19, 2011

Inspiring story. Thanks!

Sharon B.

10:03AM PST on Feb 12, 2011

Wow! What a beautiful story of love, loyalty and dedication. I have had animals since I was a child & I can't imagine life without them. Many of my pets (dogs & cats) through the years have been rescues, and what I have learned from them, and the love and devotion I have felt can't be described with mere words. It's an undescribable bond that can't be broken even with death. When they go the Rainbow Bridge...a piece of me goes with each and every one. Honestly, I would rather be around animals than some humans. Thank U for loving Norm...and I assure you that you will be together again. He is waiting and watching and as always...he will be there for you. God Bless.

Patty L.

11:36PM PST on Feb 11, 2011

what a wonderful life story .... I am sure you and Norm will be reunite one day .... dogs are angels with fur coats!

Robin S.

10:28AM PST on Jan 16, 2011

Dogs are clearly our best friends. They love us unconditionally! That is why GOD gave them HIS HOLY NAME backwards so we could get a glimpse of what HIS unconditional love is like. Norm- RIP. I know his pain I lost my two beloved Rotti's in less than a year/ They , too were wonderful loving creatures.

Jennifer W.

9:29AM PST on Jan 10, 2011

It's an amazing thing when two souls that match find each other. My condolences on losing Norm but my happy thoughts are that you enjoyed 14 wonderful years together. What a wonderful relationship.

Just recently I matched my mom, who was hurting after losing her companion with a rescue. The minute the two of them saw eachother, I knew that another family member was coming home. The last month has been wonderful for my mom, having that soul to love and care for and the unconditional love coming back.

Geraldine R.

3:27PM PST on Jan 7, 2011

Thank you Bill and Bless you too for sharing your wonderul story about 'NORM'. My heart aches for your loss.

ALL animals; like Norm; have a special place in this world and it is way overdue for ALL humans to know that humane treatment, compassion, love, and intelligence are an important factor in allowing these sentient beings into our lives.

Sherry K.

8:53AM PST on Jan 6, 2011

Bill, thank you for sharing your story about you and Norm. I have a Service Dog named Daisy. And like you said about Norm, there's nothing she can't do. Fourteen years is a long life and I can tell you loved him a lot. Norm was blessed to have found you and visa versa. What a wonderful story.

Kathy C.

6:24AM PST on Jan 6, 2011

Thank you Bill for sharing your story, Norm was a great friend and greatly loved. I still miss my German Shepherd, he had been abandoned and was a greatly loved member of our family. He was about 12 -13 when we had to put him to sleep 2 years ago. I wish you well and hope you find a new companion.

Shelley G.

5:44AM PST on Jan 2, 2011

I know exactly what pain the grief of losing one's best friend is like. Eleven years ago I had to release my dearest loving Bear. To me there was nothing he could not do. Everyone loved him. When he passed I adopted a cute little puppy, cross German shepherd and lab. This little thing looked like Bear in every way, yet he is not as smart, or obedient as his predecessor, but he was abandoned with his brothers and sisters, nine in all, in a house the owners took everything including the bitch and so they were not weaned properly, they survived by eating newspaper and cardboard boxed. Soon it will be time to start thinking about Buster's health and well being, he gets his shots and check up every year and being in the same financial circumstances as Bill C was when he first met norm, it is difficult to know what to do.