A sweet Cattle Dog mix named Ace was surrendered to the Humane Society of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, California. To make things worse: he was 19 years old.
As if being abandoned at such an advanced age wasn’t difficult enough, a devastating wildfire swept through Sonoma County soon after.
To make space for evacuees and their pets, Ace and the other shelter dogs without adopters had to be relocated. He was transferred to the Sacramento SPCA, nearly 150 miles away, where his story was about to take an unexpected turn.
Meeting Ace
News of a 19-year-old dog arriving at the SPCA spread quickly.
“The rescue posted him and I didn’t know what kind of dog he was, I just knew that he was a 19-year-old dog. I immediately called and asked to foster him,” Bonnie, Ace’s foster mom, told The Dodo.
Despite his age on paper, Ace carried himself with the energy and spirit of a much younger pup.
“When I asked to foster him, my only intent was to get him out of the shelter. Because he’s nineteen. He’s been through enough, and he needs to get into a home,” she explained.
At first, Ace was distant and aloof in his foster home. He didn’t crave attention or affection. But after a few weeks, he began settling in, even playing with Bonnie’s other dogs.
“Ace thinks he’s two. It’s like a teenager or a much younger dog,” Bonnie said.
His greatest love quickly became clear: toys. Ace adored every kind, treating them like prized treasures.
Still, his senior body needed care. His eyesight was failing, and he required extensive dental work. After twelve extractions and months of recovery with Bonnie, his personality began to soften.
“When he first came up and put his head on my lap and started nuzzling me, it tugged at my heart. That is when I decided that I was going to adopt him,” Bonnie shared.
Before long, the adoption was finalized.
A Quirky Companion
Bonnie’s only wish for Ace was that he be happy. But soon, challenges arose.
As a Cattle Dog, Ace had his own quirks. He remained independent, preferring toys over human interaction. Unlike most dogs, he didn’t want constant affection or attention.
“After he bit her, she decided to surrender him to us. We are glad we kept in touch with her, as Cattle Dogs are not for everyone!” Lucky Ones Ranch, an animal sanctuary in Vacaville, California, later wrote in a Facebook post.
At Lucky Ones Ranch, the team allowed Ace to simply be himself.
“He preferred toys over people interaction. He did not want to be petted and loved on. And that was ok with us. At his age of 19 years old, we just wanted him to be happy and do what he was most comfortable in doing,” they explained.
At the sanctuary, Ace enjoyed his days wandering around, snoozing in the sun, and most of all, playing endlessly with his toys.
The team suspected that his obsession with toys came from being left alone for long stretches of time earlier in life. Toys had been his comfort, and he never let go of that attachment.
“We think he must have been left alone for long periods of time, and he has become obsessed with toys to occupy his time,” Lucky Ones Ranch said.
For the next year and four months, Ace thrived. At 20 years old, he passed away peacefully at the ranch, surrounded by people who loved him and, of course, the toys that meant the world to him.
After everything he endured, Ace finally got to live his last chapter in peace and joy, just the way every dog deserves.