When Alison first arrived at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C., there were only fragments of her story — and they were not easy ones. Surrendered by her family after a decade, she bore physical and emotional scars, including a gunshot wound to her shoulder. Her fear of other dogs and past struggles made it clear Alison had faced unimaginable hardship. Her rescuers hoped to give her a quiet, loving place to spend the remainder of her days. At that time, Cole Reifsnider was considering adopting a dog. Initially set on getting a puppy, her perspective shifted, and she began thinking about how meaningful it might be to give a senior dog a second chance. That’s when Alison entered her life.
“[My sister] jumped in to help, sending me every adoptable dog within the tri-state area,” Reifsnider told The Dodo. “She sent me this one senior dog, Alison. I vividly remember sending back, ‘Should I adopt a senior dog lol,’ followed by, ‘Wait no — seriously, I think I love her.’”
With that realization, Reifsnider quickly applied to meet Alison, and their connection was instant. On Alison’s eleventh birthday, she officially joined Reifsnider’s home, marking the start of a beautiful bond. Despite the adversity she’d faced, Alison exuded joy and seemed determined to share it with everyone around her — but most of all, her new mom.
“I had no idea I was capable of loving something with my whole being until I got her,” Reifsnider said. Even as a senior, Alison delighted in short strolls and spending time outdoors. To make sure Alison stayed active when she couldn’t be there, Reifsnider turned to the Rover app and found Seth, a dog walker who soon became much more than that.
Initially hired to take Alison on brief 30-minute outings, Seth quickly developed his own deep bond with her. “Seth would spend anywhere from two to five hours with Alison,” Reifsnider explained. “Not only did he just take her out, but he would go to the roof and hang out with her up there to make sure she got some sun. He would lay on the floor with her to pet her, and some days, he would share his lunch with her too! It made her day and his day.”
Seth’s affection for Alison mirrored that of her mom, and when the time came for Alison to say goodbye, Reifsnider knew Seth would want to be by her side. “Seth’s last walk with Alison was on Thursday,” Reifsnider said. “However, on Thursday night when I started to worry about Alison, I immediately told Seth and I kept him updated while at the vet on Friday. When I told Seth that we would be putting Alison down at 4:30 p.m., he told me he had an exam at 2 p.m., but he would be there, and he was. He finished his exam and rushed over to meet me outside of the vet and say his final goodbye to Alison.”
After two cherished years in her forever home, Alison passed away peacefully, surrounded by the people who loved her most. In the midst of his grief, Seth penned one last tribute to Alison on Rover, a heartfelt and powerful farewell and ‘Rover Review’ that captured everything she meant to him.
“It is with a heavy heart, but great honor, that I get to write the last review for Alison,” Seth wrote. “To know Al was a privilege. The happiest old lady who had every reason to be miserable. When I took the job walking Alison, I intended for it to just be a job. That did not last long. Her infectious personality quickly melted my heart and the hearts of anyone who got to know her. We formed a bond I will forever be grateful for. There was one thing I could always count on, and that would be countless tail wags the second she saw me open the door. She was there with me during some of the most stressful times, using her calming personality to be therapeutic. A truly once-in-a-lifetime dog, she will be missed in the hearts of everyone who knew her. I loved Al and every second I got to spend with her.”
Reading Seth’s words left Reifsnider in tears but also with gratitude. Though Alison was no longer with them, the love she’d shared had left an indelible mark. “He absolutely adored Alison, and she adored him back,” Reifsnider said. “He captured her soooo perfectly in his short paragraphs. My relationship with Alison was once in a lifetime, but so was his with her.”
Shockingly, this is not the first time she has faced animal cruelty charges; she has a past conviction for similar crimes. We must ensure that no more animals suffer or die in her care!
Alison’s greatest gift was her ability to love wholeheartedly and unconditionally. Those who were lucky enough to know her will carry her memory forward, a reminder of her quiet resilience and her beautiful, enduring spirit.
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@colereifsnider Seth wrote one final Rover review for Alison: @Rover ♬ Bundle of Joy (From “Inside Out”) – Benny Martin
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