Dogs of Portage Park: Lucky and Irv

Mom couldn't decide which dog to write about for awhile until we ran into Irv and Lucky the other day. Lucky is a great dog, a big girl, Lab mix, blonde and white, she is one of the first dogs I remember when I started coming to the park. She was so friendly she'd come up to you wagging her tail and Irv would tell mom she wanted to be petted. And she did she loved that.

Irv and Lucky have one of those sad/happy stories. Irv is an elderly widower, very hard of hearing. We would see him at the park almost every time we were there walking around with his dog, an old man with his companion. One morning there was quite a bit of excitement. Mom and I were walking with Irv's daughter, Debbie, a nurse, and her Greyhound rescue, Country. All of a sudden Irv was down on the ground! They rushed to help him up, there was blood running down his face. Debbie was so upset because he was using one of those terrible retractable leashes and Lucky pulled him right down. Meanwhile, while Debbie and another friend Marilyn were helping Irv, mom grabbed Lucky who was loose. She wasn't going anywhere but mom wanted to be useful. They all helped Irv to his car and mom helped Lucky into the back seat. I tried to go along but wasn't allowed. Debbie got Country in the car to take Irv home.

It had to be the next day or so there was Irv walking his Lucky around the park, his forehead bandaged, without the retractable leash. He said he was fine. But soon he stopped coming and mom heard he was sick, in the hospital. One day mom and I ran into Debbie and Country so mom asked about Irv. We missed not seeing him walking Lucky everyday. We were told Irv is doing good, he had another surgery to fix a colonoscopy and a pacemaker put in. Mom asked if Lucky was getting her walks. We were told she is with her sister in McHenry County getting chased around by four kids. Mom commented that maybe she would lose a few pounds but Debbie didn’t think so as she is getting fed pretty well. Lucky for Lucky, and Irv. Few days later heard that Irv was anxious to get back on his walks with Lucky. Irv finally returned to the park with Lucky. He looked thinner and frail using a cane to walk with. Lucky looked very happy to be back but she did look a little heavier, unfortunately.

This was last summer. A few months ago, mom noticed that Lucky had lost a lot of weight. We thought this was great until we heard that she had diabetes. Debbie gave Lucky her shots.  One time someone told mom about how Lucky didn't seem to know where she was and that's when we learned she was losing her sight. Mom saw Debbie recently and she said that with the diabetes her sight just went really fast. She is only 7. But when we see Irv and Lucky she still comes up to you tail wagging wanting to be petted. She is still the happy dog with Irv walking her every day. One of those great man and his dog stories that you just love to witness.