Simba: A 15-pound force of nature

Rescued Shih Tzu brings a ton of joy to reluctant adopters

A year ago this month, our family suffered a loss that was far more devastating than I’d ever imagined. On that uncommonly chilly day in April, our rescue pup Simba died.

I knew what grief felt like when a pet guinea pig, rabbit or box turtle passed away. But losing Simba, who was not even 5 years old, was like losing a best friend.

Part of Simba’s magical presence and bigger-than-life personality related to the circumstances of his arrival in 2012. Our daughter, Carolyn, had a friend who was looking for rescue homes for Shih Tzu puppies that had been abandoned in a trailer.

“Would you and mom consider taking one?” she asked.

A dog requires daily care and often ties a family down and makes vacations complicated. A 7-monthold puppy requires almost as much care as a new baby. My wife, Laura, and I replied “no” — firmly. Then Carolyn showed us a picture of her holding Simba. Cuddled up in the crook of her arm, he looked like a stuffed toy.

“You can bring him over for a visit,” I said, “but we aren’t taking him.”

The minute Simba arrived, it was over. He was a fluffy, quizzical fellow with huge round eyes and a head that tilted sideways as he checked us out. He bounded around the house, inspecting each room, before wetting the carpet for good measure. He flopped down on his belly, thoroughly relaxed, and stared up at us with supreme confidence as if to say: “I’ve found my family now. Just let me know where to sleep and I’m good.” His huge eyes made clear that he had no intention of going back to that trailer.

Simba became a member of the household instantly. Although he’d never been trained to take walks, he fluffed up his tail like a feather duster and pranced proudly around the neighborhood. After getting shots from the vet and a haircut from the groomer, he looked healthy and even regal. He perched on the back of the couch like a mountain goat, surveying the neighborhood through a window. He barked at joggers and mail carriers, but when someone entered the door, he plopped onto his haunches to have his fluffy head scratched.

Our whole family fell incurably in love with Simba. This little white character who liked to play with a mini blue rubber ducky became the new center of our universe.

Six months later, my daughter asked if we’d consider rescuing Simba’s sister, Grace. She was the last of the litter and nearly starving to death in the trailer. I said: “Absolutely not!”

The next day, Grace moved into the house. She was much smaller than Simba and looked shellshocked. Her tail had no fur. Her coat was a mess. She had worms.