Meet Rocky, the old faithful doggie who stayed just long enough on this planet to meet his little sister. In 2015, a young Fort Meade couple adopted a 17-year-old canine – Rocky – from Anne Arundel County Animal Control (AACAC) shelter. “Rocky thrived in his new home,” the couple, Beth and Michael Clark, wrote.

Soon the dog became their family member, and when Beth got pregnant, he even participated in her pregnancy photoshoot, helping announce the good news. Throughout Beth’s expectancy, the doggie stayed by her side. “When I started showing, he was a lot more attached to me,” Beth said.

After the birth, as soon as they took their baby girl home, they noticed there was something really wrong with Rocky. Few hours later after greeting his human sister, he quietly passed away at the age of 18. In honor of Rocky, FAACAC wrote in a little letter to the Clarks’ new daughter: “Dear Hazel: Someday your mom and dad will tell you all about your first dog, Rocky… Someday, they will… tell you how wonderful and how loved your first dog was, even though your lives only overlapped so very briefly.”

“I hope our story helps other people decide to adopt senior dogs,” Beth added.

More info: Arundel County Animal Control | Facebook (h/t)

Meet Rocky, the old doggie who stayed just long enough on this planet to meet his little sister

In 2015, a young Fort Meade couple adopted a 17-year-old canine – Rocky – from a shelter

When Beth got pregnant, he even participated in her pregnancy photoshoot

“When I started showing, he was a lot more attached to me”

After the birth, as soon as they took their baby girl home, they noticed Rocky was unwell

A few hours later after greeting his human sister, he quietly passed away at the age of 18

“Someday your mom and dad will tell you all about your first dog, Rocky…”

“I hope our story helps other people decide to adopt senior dogs”