20/05/2026
A week ago today, we said goodbye to our pack leader, our head boy, Falcor.
Fourteen years ago, we rescued him from Orange Farm township. He was already an adult when he came to us, so we believe he was around 17 years old when he earned his angel wings. He was the very first rescue we decided to keep at daycare because we wanted a daycare dog. We could never have imagined then what he would become to us, to the dogs, and to this place.
Over the years, our permanent pack grew. Every one of them a rescue. Every one from the township. Every one carrying heartbreak and a story of survival. Falcor welcomed them all. He led them all.
He had a quiet, dignified strength that every dog respected. He never needed to fight for authority. All Falcor had to do was walk up to a dog and they would move aside for him. And if anyone got too rowdy or out of line, he would calmly step in and reprimand them. He was the heart of this pack.
This last year was hard physically. His mind was still sharp, but his body was failing him. Severe arthritis, muscle loss, and nerve degeneration slowly stole his mobility. But we were incredibly fortunate that, because of our amazing staff, we could give him the care he needed right until the very end. Acupuncture, hydrotherapy, red light therapy — whatever could help him, we did.
As walking became harder, one of us was always by his side in case he needed help. He was never alone. In most homes, his journey probably would have ended much sooner simply because round-the-clock care isn’t possible. But we could give him that, and we are endlessly grateful that we did.
Falcor spent every single day surrounded by love — his family, his humans, and his pack. And his final day was no different. He spent it exactly as he always had: lying in the sun, birds chirping around him, dogs nearby, enjoying his cooked food and treats, with all of us right there beside him.
Thank you for 14 incredible years, Falcor. You are a legend. You are our pack leader. And you will be missed forever. We love you.