‘It’s that unconditional love,’ food bank, clinics cater to pets in need
VANCOUVER — Mark Matthews isn’t sure he would have survived life on Vancouver’s streets without his loyal golden retriever, Bounder.
The dog has been his constant companion for a decade, including a year where they were homeless. Matthews said through it all, Bounder has given him emotional stability and a sense of responsibility.
“This guy kept me centred,” he said, as the dog lazed between his feet. “If I didn’t have him, who knows.”
Bounder is nearly 12 years old and his health is failing. The dog’s back legs no longer work, so Matthews crafted a kind of wheelchair for him out of plastic piping, straps and wheels from a baby carriage. But Bounder also has cancer and a growing lump on his upper lip.