When a senior dog named Rocky entered Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco last year on August 31, he was so overweight that the staff lovingly joked that he resembled a capybara . Apparently, his owner had dementia and was inadvertently overfeeding him — a lot.

The dog could barely walk.

Muttville took in the 34-lb corgi mix and got to work. A veterinarian determined that the dog — renamed Juggles — was obese, but not from a thyroid condition or another health challenge. Juggles also had a skin issue and needed about a dozen teeth removed.

His profile page when he was available for adoption read in part:

“A stoic heartthrob and cuddle enthusiast, he has top-shelf Corgi features — short legs, body like an over-stuffed ottoman, bespoke trousers — but that’s not all. His thick toffee scruff hints at river otter lineage; a white mask adds a whiff of possum; and his nubbin tail is a master stroke of unnamed origin. Destined for a weight-loss journey and not about to complain, he is a friend to dogs and an admirer of gentle people, whose affection feeds his lovely soul.”

The 11-year-old cuddle enthusiast didn’t have to wait long to get adopted. In fact, Muttville reached out to San Francisco resident Eden Godsoe and her husband, Jim King, to see if they’d like to meet Juggles. They’d been wanting to adopt a senior dog but needed to find a dog who wouldn’t be frightened or hurt by their boisterous dog Gidget, a 4-year-old, 70-lb Labrador retriever.

Sure enough, Gidget and Juggles instantly hit it off, wagging their tails enthusiastically, according to Godsoe.

“They were happy going on a walk together. They were sniffing each other. There was just no fear,” she recalled. “And I just kind of fell in love with him. He's so sweet and very friendly.”

A Weight-Loss Journey Begins

The couple renamed the dog Hockey, since it rhymed with his original name — plus Godsoe grew up in Canada and her family loves the sport. They also took their new dog to the veterinarian, who confirmed that Hockey wasn’t obese due to a medical issue and helped them develop a weight-loss plan.

For the first two days, Hockey seemed uninterested in eating Hill’s Prescription Diet kibble, which Godsoe was careful to mete out with a measuring cup. After all, in his previous home, he was being overfed not just dog food but copious amounts of human food like pizza.

But then he embraced the kibble — and started following around his active new sister, Gidget, under the watchful eye of Nic, the family’s 10-year-old Chihuahua mix.

“When we first got Hockey, he really couldn't go up and down stairs. He couldn't walk that well. I just took him up and down our block and that was a lot,” Godsoe said. “Then we started adding a little more — walk him around the block — and it still took a long time. And just sort of built up from there.”

Nearly a year later, Hockey is down to 18 lbs — nearly half his weight from when he was adopted. Now that he’s at the target weight set by his veterinarian, he’s much more active and happier, according to Godsoe.

“Now he gets up and down stairs and on and off sofas all by himself. He really is a new dog,” she said. “He honestly does seem happier. I'm watching him right now — there’s just pep in his step.”

She credits Gidget with helping Hockey lose weight, too. The two love playing together — Hockey’s herding instincts are apparent when he chases Gidget around — and sleep in the same room at night. Then each morning, Hockey is eager for Gidget to get out of her crate so he can start playing with her again. When they go to doggy daycare twice a week for extra exercise, photos show the two buddies teaming up there, too.

Godsoe believes that if Hockey could talk, he’d say he loved his previous owner, who she credits with helping the dog become so trusting and to develop such an “amazing, sweet personality.” He’s the cuddliest dog she’s ever had.

Alzheimer’s Disease And Pets

It is common for people with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia to forget how often they’ve fed their pet and inadvertently overfeed them to the point that they become overweight, according to Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, SIFI, senior director of education and social services for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America .

“As the disease progresses, changes in short-term memory can make it difficult for a person to remember whether, or how recently, they fed their pet,” she said. “They may feed the animal again because, from their perspective, it feels as though the task has not yet been completed, especially if they have an animal that is very food driven and frequently acts like they are hungry — begging for food, hanging around their food dish. Over time, repeated feeding or offering frequent treats can contribute to weight gain and related health concerns for the pet.”

So we should not think the person with dementia is being irresponsible, she noted. Additionally, pets can provide tremendous benefits for people living with dementia, including companionship, comfort, routine, a sense of purpose and opportunities for meaningful engagement, according to Reeder.

“Rather than immediately taking the responsibility away, care partners can put simple supports in place, such as a feeding schedule that can be checked off, pre-portioned meals or a designated container that makes it clear when the pet has already been fed for the day. This can also be done with treats,” she said. “These strategies can help the person remain involved in caring for their pet while also ensuring the animal’s needs are safely met.”

Hockey Generates Gratitude

For her part, Godsoe is grateful to Hockey’s previous owner for providing him with a loving home for so many years. She’s also grateful to Muttville for taking him in when his owner could no longer care for him. She even started volunteering at Muttville once a week after adopting Hockey.

She deeply appreciates how much joy Hockey has brought to their home. It’s proven perfect timing, since both of the couple’s adult children are college students. In fact, the couple adopted Hockey the day after their daughter started college and they officially became “empty nesters.”

“I can't imagine Hockey not being in our lives,” Godsoe said. “He's something special.”

She hopes other dog lovers will consider adopting senior dogs (aged 7 and up) since her experience has been so incredibly positive.

“There is something truly magical about senior dogs. They just have so much love to give,” she said. “And you really can give them a whole new fresh life.”