Henry II

10 years old, Rainbow Bridge

August 22, 2024: We love you, Henry

It breaks our hearts to share the news today that SECR has lost another one of our own. Henry left us after a prolonged battle with declining health, and we miss him deeply. This dog taught us every day what it really means to rescue. We’re grateful for his forever foster parents who stopped at nothing to ensure he always had the loving, perfect-for-him family that he always needed.

What follows is a tribute to Henry from his Foster Mom:

It is with a very heavy heart that I share the sad news that we had to say goodbye to our beloved little firecracker, Mr. Henry. He slowly lost his ability to walk, which eventually caused him immense stress and pain. Looking back through photos and videos of him over the years, I realize just how much his illness stole from him over the last few months. One thing is for sure, that he always knew how very much he was loved throughout it all.

Henry was truly one of a kind. During the three years we had together, he taught us so much about rescue and life in general. It’s easy to romanticize rescuing dogs, to think that with enough time and love, you’ll get your perfect pet. Henry taught us that sometimes harm has been inflicted that can’t totally be undone, and you have to be okay with meeting a dog where they are. I don’t know what happened to Henry in the first 7 years of his life, I just know that I wish we could have gotten him sooner and that his second life with us could have been longer.

Henry’s boundaries and “spicy” personality (as deemed by the vet’s office where everyone knew him well with his regular spa visits) could be challenging to say the least, but he sure did show us a lot of love over the years and I am so honored to have been his person. I’ll never forget the way he’d lick my feet when he was happy, the way he’d come up to me demanding head scritches, the way he’d run up and down the hall when it was time for “walkies” and herd his lazy brother to the door. I’ve never seen a dog who appreciated walks more than Henry, and it felt like a gift we could give him every day. On his walks, he appreciated the finer things like selectively walking slowly through the yards with the nice thick grass, as well as the simpler things like eating worms. I’ve also never seen a dog who loved car rides as much as Henry, and despite his normal desire for personal space, he would always make sure his head was right next to yours when you started driving, tongue out, smiling the whole time.

In true corgi fashion, he ruled the house with his larger than life personality. He would not hesitate to let you know if you were deviating from his daily routine by staring at you and grumbling until you followed his orders. In the words of my husband “despite not having his full mental faculties, he managed to con us everyday by demanding treats for everything.” One of my favorite funny memories of Henry is how when I would throw a frisbee in the yard, his corgi brother Bodhi would run after it, but Henry would bolt in a seemingly random direction which often caused him to run straight into Bodhi’s side. He loved playing in the yard, going for walks on the beach, taking naps behind various plants/shrubs, and hunting lizards (though luckily, he typically wasn’t very good at this).

During our last moments with him, the vet asked about special memories, and it was so nice to be able to share some of the above. We were able to hold him and tell him how very much he was loved, and it was an unexpected gift to be able to see him truly relaxed for the very first time. I miss him every day, and even as the weeks go by, every morning I come down the stairs I automatically want to say “Good morning Mr. Henry” as I start my day. He has left a hole in our hearts for sure. Saying goodbye to Henry is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do, and we will cherish the time we had together always.

August 12, 2021: Welcome Henry II to SECR!

Why stop at just one Henry, when you can have two? Please help us give a warm welcome to one of our newest rescues, Henry II!

Henry comes to SECR as an owner surrender. His Mom and Dad are experiencing serious health issues and have been in and out of the hospital, making it very difficult for them to provide the love, care, and attention a dog needs to thrive. It’s been a while since Henry has had consistent care and regular interaction with people and animals, so we are working diligently with him on socialization, resource guarding, and anxiety. He is still somewhat skeptical of finding his place with people and other dogs, so making Henry feel safe and secure is a top priority for his new foster parents and corgi foster brother. We’re also making sure Henry feels and looks his best self, giving him a good spa treatment and nail trim, treating his skin allergies, and getting him on a healthy diet. He has a long road in front of him, but he’s on the right path and making progress every day.

Welcome to the family sweet Henry! We are so happy to have you with us!