G. Gilbert

A tribute to G. Gilbert, as delivered by his dad, Anthony Rothman

Dogs don’t get to give speeches, so I am speaking for my dog Gilbert Gilbert, otherwise known as G. Gilbert.  I speak as him.

Hi. I am G. Gilbert. You don’t know me, but I am mostly an American Bulldog. I was a happy puppy, but as I grew up, I was left outside almost all the time. I used to chew on the fence and lost a lot of my teeth. Somehow, I got out of the yard, and some guy in a uniform found me and brought me to Baldwin Park Shelter. From what I have learned, it should have been called San Quentin. I was locked up almost all the time and didn’t get to eat much. The people who took me out were so nice, and I appreciated every second. I kept getting colds, and I knew that like other guys around me who suddenly disappeared, I was going to disappear soon, too. 

I tried to dream of good things, and then suddenly, an angel appeared.

I don’t read and really couldn’t see that great, but I think she had a mark that said Outta something. Someone called her Jill. She took me out and walked me and put me on film. She left and I waited. One day, she came back and took me home. Then she left me at another place with cages, but she said this is where my person will find me.

She was right. Anthony walked by one day and looked me in the eyes and I knew. I tried to tell him, but it just sounded like a bark to him. It must have worked because the next thing I knew, he was walking me several times a day, feeding me great food, and taking me very cool places. I made some good friends. My best dog friend is named Moose. Karen was my human friend, his mom. He has a similar story to me. He is a little nutty, but I deal with it.  I also had other good friends like Bennett. 

Anthony and I were best friends. He said it and I knew it.  He went away sometimes and I would go on vacation at Mika’s house. I had to be in good shape, as we went hiking a lot. 

After a while, Anthony took me to doctors A LOT. I didn’t mind it. The doctors and all the people there are so nice and I knew they were helping me. But I knew I had some problems. One day, one of my toes was missing. Another time, I left the doctor with no hair over my eye and really bad vision.  Another time, I felt so bad, I thought I was a goner until a doctor gave me some medicine.  Another time, blood was gushing out of my nose, and I needed these procedures to clear out the fungus. All through these things, Anthony was there, and I was there for him, and we just did the same walks, ate the same food and went to different places. 

Then one day, I felt even sicker than I did before. I went to the doctor and left. Then I saw Anthony very upset, and I got upset. We went to these different doctors and heard one of them say “cancer” again. Anthony took me to the cancer doctor that I loved, and she seemed to give bad news too. I felt the same. Everyone seemed encouraged, and one day I wasn’t feeling well. Anthony laid down with me on the couch, I licked his face, and he fell asleep. I did, too.

I never woke up, though. I died.

I lived a blessed life.  I travelled and saw beaches, ate great food, and lived in the moment every day. My spirit is still here though. Through my life, I helped Moose get adopted, another guy named Russell, and another guy named Andy.  I helped Anthony become dedicated to saving dogs like me. 

But through it all, it was all due to Outta the Cage and Jill.  She found me, she felt my spirit and saved me, so I could live a blessed life. Thank you, Jill……..

This is me again, Anthony.

After many months, I rescued a dog I felt some of G. Gilbert’s spirit. His name is Finnegan.

Thank you, Jill. I am a different person because of G. Gilbert, and he touched my life and others. He is the inspiration and soul of Toothless Gil’s. Anyone who met him was really touched. Jill has an innate ability to read the spirit of dogs.  Everyone one of the dogs I have met from her have a spirit you can feel.

Thank you Jill, Outta the Cage, and especially, G. Gilbert.