“It’s funny to think about the things in your life that can make you cry just knowing that they existed, can then become the same things that make you cry knowing that they’re now gone”
-Ted Lasso S2E1
Mint King was an estimated 10-year old Chihuahua mix who came to her forever home on February 27th, 2021. Carly, Mint's mom, had seen Mint on the social media of an SF-based senior dog organization called Muttville, and after seeing her soulful eyes and crooked snout, was immediately hooked. Mint died in the arms of her mom on October 4th, 2021 from complications of chronic seizures.
The first decade of Mint's life remains a mystery, but her last 9 months were full of leisure and love. Her favorite activities included sprinting down the apartment hallway, snuggling like a donut in her beloved "crate bed", and nuzzling into sun-heated bark chips- making sure every bit of her 7lb body could catch some rays. She enjoyed eating her chicken and sweet potato food which she made abundantly clear with the excessively audible snarfling noise she made as she vacuumed up the contents of her bowl every night. One of Mint's largest achievements is obtaining at 13/10 rating on "We Rate Dogs" when she was featured in Feb 2021 with her famously tiny crossed paws. Carly felt honored to be living with such a celebrity.
Though their time together was brief, Mint and Carly enjoyed some wonderful adventures. Mint saw the Pacific Ocean multiple times at Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. She dined alfresco at Alpine Inn and Coupa Cafe, and visited Dolores Park in San Francisco. She jaunted around at the local dog park and nearby walking paths. She was a (semi-)regular at Baylands Nature Preserve. She even made two separate trips to Eugene, Oregon, peacefully flying on an airplane each time. Despite her defiant indifference, in all places she met dog and people friends who loved her.
And loving Mint was not always straightforward! She was not overly affectionate, and made you work to gain her interest and trust. Her tiny body carried a strong soul. She did not ask for love - she expected it and assumed it was there. She was confident, and independent, and knew exactly what she wanted - whether it was a particular sunbathing location, or her dinner to be stirred up just so before she would even sniff it. Mint did not settle for anything that did not suit her. She was content to be alone, but in her most vulnerable moments of bath time, or blood draws, or nighttime seizures, she clearly found comfort in the arms of others, especially her mom.
Mint is survived by her mom, Carly, who will miss her every day. She is also survived by her loving foster parents, Diana and Sheldon, who gave her a home in her most vulnerable period. At their house she gained weight, confidence, and the comfort of her Sacred Space - the crate bed (which just consisted of a dog bed inside an open dog crate). It was at their house Mint started treatment for her chronic seizures and the village of her medical care team was formed. In particular, we thank the veterinary team at Mid-Peninsula Animal hospital, especially Dr. Celia Megdal who went above and beyond to prolong Mint's quality of life. We also thank the caring team at Adobe Animal Hospital who provided such tender care in her final hour. And of course, thank you to Muttville SF who made this beautiful scenario even possible.
The largest thanks goes to Minty's devoted midday visitor, Brittany, whose compassion for Mint knew no bounds. She is the artist behind many of the best photos of Mint, as well as the author of creatively written and often hilarious recaps of their half hour daily outings. Her attentive care was so appreciated.
Mint's presence will always be felt when basking in glorious sunshine, snuggling in cozy blankets, or doing a BIG stretch when getting up from a nap. Her legacy will live on in the lives of those close to her. Caring for her reminded us to care for all those who are less fortunate, to have empathy in tough moments, and to be willing to love even when there's an end in sight.
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