Thanksgiving is a popular day to give thanks in general, but for my wife and I, it’s also the day we celebrate Penny’s “birthday”, the day we found a lost cocker spaniel and took her home to start a new life with us and our two former stray cats.

(You can find out more about how we found our sweet Penny at A Plate on the Floor for Thanksgiving, which also has more photos of our loyal pup.)

Penny is now 18 or so years old (with former strays it’s hard to tell), an ancient, amiable cocker spaniel who still lives for a gentle pat on the head, a scratch on the chin, mealtimes, and soft pillows.

Her iron-jawed dog biscuit and bagel chewing days are over. Soft bread, Saltines, and Oysterettes are more her speed now, and she no longer runs after thrown tennis balls like she’s training to beat a Guinness World Record that she’s already set.

Even Penny’s two cats have passed on, but she takes all these changes with the good grace and patience that only an old dog can know and teach.

The saying, “See a penny and pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck,” has been very true for us these years.

Thanks so much for finding us, Penny (and happy birthday)!

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