This is a story about a lucky dog.

In January 2019, a young couple welcomed a German Shepherd puppy into their home. Brimming with energy and confidence, he had a pure black coat that made him look like a hellhound, even though he was a softie inside.

They named him Kal-El after the couple’s obsession with Superman.

When Kal-El first fetched a ball and got praised, it was like he had found his true purpose. He was a working breed after all. He decided that this was his job. He existed to play fetch.

So the couple happily took him to the dog park, excited to finally have a fetch-loving dog. Their other German Shepherd dog, Kara (the Supergirl) had absolute no interest in playing fetch, because she was too smart for it. But Kal-El loved it. Months passed with him chasing his ball at the dog park. The way he ran, his muscles rippling under that black coat, a 40-kilo machine, exploding into action…

Until one day, he took a tumble.

It was very odd, because there was nothing he could have tripped over at the dog park that day. He whimpered like he was in a lot of pain and he started limping. 

That night, he was limping so bad, the couple had to carry him outside so he could pee. 

First thing next morning, they took him to the vet. And miraculously, he wasn’t limping anymore. He was running around at the vet clinic like nothing had happened.

The vet concluded that it could have been a sprain and said that sometimes the adrenaline of going to the vet with all the strange smells and everything suppresses the pain. She prescribed some anti-inflammatory and pain relief, and recommended rest.

Kal-El recovered very quickly. Weeks later, he returned to the dog  park. It was impossible keeping him from playing fetch. Until a few weeks later, when he took another tumble and started limping again.

The vet suspected that maybe he hadn’t fully recovered from his previous injury. So the couple kept him out of the dog park for longer, to give him more time to recover.

Kal-El pestered the couple for months by bringing his ball, leaving it at their feet, and giving them that intense stare which said “Come on guys, give me work, this is my job, I gotta fetch.” But they gave him rest. Kept him away from the dog park…

And then, he fell again. Not while playing fetch this time, but while running to the fence to bark at some passersby. He started limping again.

An x-ray was done to confirm what the vet had suspected.

Kal-El was only 18 months old when he was diagnosed with early onset Arthritis. 

Already very late-stage. Surgery wasn’t an option.

The vet said a bad arthritis like this in an 18-month old puppy was so, sooo rare. She had only seen one other case like this, and unfortunately, that dog hadn’t lived a long life. The vet cautioned the couple to have realistic expectations about how much time they would have with Kal-El. 

She said he would be lucky to see his 5th birthday.

Remember how I told you this story was about a lucky dog?

Today as this post goes out, Kal-El is celebrating his 6th birthday.

He’s been on prescription medication (low dose anti-inflammatory and pain relief, which he will continue for the rest of his life) and on two different brands of joint supplements, along with a balanced diet. He’s monitored regularly by his amazing vet. 

And he’s still running around like a happy idiot.

Sadly, he’s not allowed to play fetch at the dog park anymore, because he will probably run too hard and get really sore, but the couple still plays fetch with him in their backyard. Short distance and slow throws only. He’s happy and living his best possible life.

He hasn’t limped since then, but every now and then, he will start to look a little bit stiff. A little bit sore. But his family is extremely, extremely grateful to have spent 6 amazing years with him.

Here’s to hoping for another 6 years.