Some elder-dogs enjoy the flair of all-out bucket lists, but Ms. Gertrude (that’s Gertie, for all you humans) prefers to keep it simple and, well, snuggly. At 14 years old, this purebred “Who Knows What,” as Mom refers to her, is embarking on a small but ambitious journey: she wants to receive 1,000 hugs.
Gertie and her tiny canine brother Pablo were abandoned at a McDonald’s in the 107-degree Arizona heat. A Facebook plea made the rounds, but no one stepped up to take the pair in. Pablo the Chihuahua didn’t have the best people skills, and Gertie was already 12 years old.
Their odds were not the best. But it wasn’t long after she saw that sweet senior face (and thought of these two sitting in 100-degree weather in fur coats) that a woman named Kate Goodhart invited them into her home.
Gertie is an old lady, it’s true, but those whose lives have been graced by a senior dog know that means nothing. People passing by frosty faces looking for a home are all too common, unfortunately. Goodhard writes on Gertie’s Facebook page:
“They see cute, cuddly and bouncy, but are blind to older, calmer and loving.”
To Goodhart and anyone who has ever wrangled a puppy, those three things sound like paradise. So why didn’t anyone want this wise old sweetheart of a dog? Our best guess is that no one expected them to be able to handle all the adoration.
Gertie and Pablo aren’t going anywhere now—they’ll be a couple of Goodharts forever. Despite their veterinarian’s recommendation that they put Gertie to sleep due to her numerous medical issues, her family knew she still had some strength in her. Her health actually improved after she settled in at home.
Now Gertie is on a mission. She’s an old girl in her golden years who may not have a lot of time left, but she still has a zest for life. Her mother writes that she enjoys “meeting new people and being hugged by everyone she meets.” So why not go out with a bang and a thousand hugs under your belt?
Goodhart says this endeavor is about making Gertie happy, but if “she happens to clear the blind spots people have for older dogs, all the better.” It’s also about fun, and if Gertie is not in the mood or becomes tired during a hug session, she will (regrettably) decline further hugs. She is also staying close to home in Arizona and Nevada, in “Anthem, Cave Creek, Carefree, and vicinity south to about Greenway.”
So send her some love on Facebook or visit and give that girl a big bear hug! Good luck on your way to 1,000 hugs, Gertie! We’re sending virtual snuggles your way!
