THE STORY OF DUKE

In 2017, Sheila and Walter Soestmeyer of Chester, Nova Scotia, adopted a six-year-old Belgian Malinois shepherd mix named Duke from Marley’s Hope Rescue. All they were told was that he’d had “several placements” previously. In 2021, Walter died of congestive heart failure, leaving Sheila to care for Duke on her own.

In October of 2023, I met Sheila when my father was staying at The Lodge That Gives, a Halifax residence for out-of-town cancer patients. Dad was there to have 20 radiation treatments over the course of a month, and Sheila was undergoing chemotherapy. I was at The Lodge every day. Sheila and I chatted a few times. She played cribbage with Dad and ate meals with him. In our talks, Sheila didn’t mention having a dog, nor did she to Dad.

In February of 2024, a Facebook friend shared ElderDog Canada Halifax Pawd’s adoption post for Duke. My husband, Craig Pothier, and I weren’t looking for a dog, or even talking about adopting one. But I thought Duke’s photos were cute, and I liked his profile, which I sent to Craig at work with this word: “Tempting.” Long story short: Two weeks later, on Feb. 17, Duke moved in.

All we knew about Duke’s previous companion was that her name was Sheila, she lived on the South Shore, she had cancer and she could no longer care for Duke, who had been living in a foster home for four months at that time.

On move-in day, Tanya from ElderDog’s cellphone rang. “It’s Sheila,” she said. After letting her know that she had just moved Duke in, she put Sheila on speakerphone. As soon as I heard her British accent, all of the dots connected: I knew it was the Sheila I had met at The Lodge. When I told her that I was Richard Doucet’s daughter, we all got teary.

I believe serendipity sent Duke to Craig and me. Sheila and I wondered if it was Walter’s doing from another realm. Craig and I took Duke to visit Sheila three times at home in Chester, and we soon realized that we had “adopted” Sheila along with Duke.

On Sept. 30, Sheila died peacefully in Bridgewater hospital, with a friend of 40 years at her bedside. Craig and I missed our visits with Sheila, watching Duke trot up her front walk and give her a kiss to greet her, his tail wagging for longer than it does for anyone else. It gave Sheila peace of mind knowing how much Craig and I love Duke, and that we were able to give him the golden retirement he deserved.

On May 12, 2025, Duke crossed the rainbow bridge, peacefully at home, wrapped in our arms and our love. Craig and I are heartbroken but consoled by the precious gift that Duke was, and by all of the beautiful memories we created together.