Grandfather’s passing leaves his deaf Boxer to be adopted out or cross the rainbow bridge, grandson rallies support from internet strangers and finds Max a furever home with a couple who had: ‘been looking for a deaf dog because the man is deaf as well.’

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jan 23, 2026 2:00 PM EST

The bond that senior hoomans have with their dogs is truly a wonderful one that ought to be respected and celebrated long after the person has passed. But this story tells a slightly different tale in which a passed senior's dog's life is hanging in the balance, only held up by the hands of a young man who refuses to let the dog's servitude and support go unrecognized.

The dogs who are left behind when people pass pose quite the problem to the families they are put in the care of. For many the sight of the dog is a painful one, filled with memories of the person they lost. For others it is at best bittersweet. And so many of these dogs are mistreated, misunderstood and eventually discarded like trash.

And while the dog in this story was close to being met with the same fate as we have described here, he was luckily saved by a young man who saw so much more than a doggo who had begun struggling to climb stairs. He saw the soul who gently and tenderly supported his grandfather through his twilight years. Giving company when none was around, giving strength when none was to be found and giving hope when it had fallen on the ground. And so this young person set out to find this dog a deserving home, come heck or high water. This is his tale. 

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    "Max was the perfect fit for them!"
    via keredi
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    Before my grandfather passed away in May, my family agreed to take his beloved dog, Max, once he was gone. Since then, my parents have divorced, my
    via keredi
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    mother has moved out, and my father lost his job. My dad wants to have Max put down because he has trouble walking up the stairs now, but I
    via keredi
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    convinced him to wait two weeks while I find Max a new home where it won't be an issue for him. He's in perfect health otherwise. My mom can't take him in because she just I moved to her new
    via keredi

  • Jheez what is this hallmark movie moment that has come about here. A grandfather passing, parents splitting up and a child who will simply not give up on the pure soul of a dog who has been subjected to the ignorant whim and wants of the hoomans around him. It is wholly heartwarming there is no denying that. Although it is equally heartwrenching. Such weight should not land on the shoulders of such a young person. But this youngling was ready to walk his path, and to walk it with pride and purpose no less.

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    apartment and can't have dogs, my dad refuses to take care of him anymore, and I go to school in a city a few hours away. Max can be difficult
    via keredi
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    Cheezburger Image 10598584832
    via keredi
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    a deaf, 10 year old white boxer, and he grew up as the only dog my grandpa had on an 80 acre property. He loves to be able to roam around but knows to stay to his property while outside on his
    via keredi
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    own. He's extremely loyal and sweet, and he loves cuddles and scritches. He's been neutered and is up to date on his vaccines. He would do best in a home without other
    via keredi
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    dogs because he can be territorial, but he won't attack other dogs unless provoked - he's lived with our two dogs since May. He needs to be fed in a separate room from
    via keredi
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    other dogs and not be disturbed while eating. When my grandfather was nearing the end of his life, I remember seeing how gentle Max was around
    via keredi
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    him, always staying right by his side. He'd walk around the cords for the oxygen machine and was careful not to jump up or disrupt him. My grandfather loved him so much,
    via keredi
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    Cheezburger Image 10598584576
    via keredi
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    and I know he was worried about what would happen to Max after he passed away. I know that Max is a good boy with a big heart and he deserves to have a
    via keredi

  • Ah shucks, talk about a tearjerker of a story. How can it be that this doggo would be so sweet, so caring, so aware of the reality of the life being lived around him? And then with all that love and care, to be thrust aside, turned into an insignificant side character to be offed in the second act. It is a truly fortuitous event that this child saw the light and value of this doggo’s life and did not let those who are supposed to be smarter and kinder than him lead the way. 

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    loving home where he can flourish for his senior years. I don't want his life to be cut short for no reason. I've contacted all the boxer rescues in my area without success, and I'm
    via keredi
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    worried that bringing him to a shelter would be bad for him as a boxer breed with special needs. If anybody here could possibly take him in, or if you know somebody who
    via keredi
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    could, I'm in the SE Michigan area. Thank you.
    via keredi
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    Cheezburger Image 10598584320
    via keredi
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    Hey everyone, a few weeks ago I made a post about needing to find a new home for Max. I was so touched by all the caring responses it received and I'm so happy to say that
    via keredi
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    we've found Max a furever home <3 He's now living with a couple who has another white boxer, Junior! They had originally been looking for a deaf
    via keredi
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    dog because the man is deaf as well, but it turned out that Junior, unlike most white boxers, is not deaf. So Max was the perfect fit for them! Here's a picture of Junior and Max getting to know each other.
    via keredi
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    Max is now getting settled into his new home with them, and at someone's suggestion from my original post we started Max on taking joint supplement treats daily, which we sent along with him.
    via keredi
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    Thank you for all of the help and encouragement. It really means so much to me to know that total strangers reached out in Max's time of need. I know he has many more happy days to come. <3
    via keredi

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rainbow bridge internet strangers grandfather passing find reddit story adopted deaf dog dog story support furever home boxer grandson leaves couple
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