07/19/2026
🐾 From Rescue to Resident:🐾
Rocky has stepped beautifully into his role as "house dog" at The Landings, Touch of Grey Rescue.
This photo captures him doing what he does best: providing quiet comfort, companionship, and endless love to those who need it most.
Sunday Stories with Touch of Grey:
The House Dog and the Hospice Dog
🤎🩶
When we opened The Landing, our transitional home for senior and special needs dogs, we knew we wanted a house dog. A dog that would be a consistent and joyful presence amidst the chaos, and at times the heartbreak, that comes with rescue.
More importantly though, our house dog would be a calm and reassuring companion to the other dogs arriving from shelters and other traumatic situations. Because no matter how hard we try to communicate with our beloved canine companions, the reality is they teach each other things in ways we simply cannot.
The Universe, working through Ambassadors Dog Training, delivered us a 7 year old hunk of chocolate love named Rocky who was being surrendered by his family. We decided Rocky would be our house dog. And as the ambassador for Touch of Grey Rescue, he would also be certified as a therapy dog.
The first time we brought Rocky to the vet, he wandered over to a couple who were seemingly awaiting news. Rocky sat right between them, offering up his big blocky head for some therapeutic pets. It was as if he was already trained for the work he’d be doing with humans…but how would he do with the dogs?
Bart came into the shelter as a stray, and it was pretty clear he’d lived a rough life. He was heartworm positive, malnourished, intact, had chronic ear and skin infections, an upper respiratory infection, and some of the worst arthritis we’ve ever seen.
The morning after Bart came to The Landing, he lost consciousness and collapsed into a puddle of his own urine. We thought we’d be lucky to have him for a few days.
But then Bart did what so many of our dogs do when they know they’re in a good place….he found a will to live. After a week of antibiotics, pain medication, baths, and good nutrition, Bart was feeling better. It was time to introduce him to Rocky.
Rocky remained calm and completely unbothered as Bart stared at him a little too long and got way too close for comfort. Bart is what we lovingly refer to as “a stinker”. He likely wasn’t very tolerant of other dogs in his prime. But within a couple of days, he and Rocky were buds. They roamed the yard together and started playing tug and sharing toys.
Since then, we’ve brought several other dogs into The Landing. But Rocky is the only dog that Bart will tolerate. And while Rocky is wonderful with every dog we introduce him to…he has a special bond with our stinker.
Not only is Rocky exceeding every expectation as our house dog - we think he just might love his job. 🩶 🤎
