Oliver is a wonderful 15-year-old English Golden Retriever that is regarded as many people’s best friend. Oliver lives in a small neighborhood in Northfield, Illinois. His mother set up an Instagram account for him in 2020 so he could share his daily activities and minor adventures with other dog lovers online. But Oliver had already won over the hearts of his neighbors before online strangers began to fall in love with him.
Oliver’s neighbor Melissa, who is also the dog mother to Pudge the Pit, Oliver’s best friend, describes Oliver as “a very driven dog with a very strict routine.” He makes daily visits to all of his neighbors under his timetable. He anticipates that everyone will be overjoyed to have him here. He quickly sits down in front of her refrigerator. Melissa furthers. It’s incredible how he just started doing it without anyone ever putting him up to it, and the neighbors immediately invited ol’ Oli into their homes and families. He’s often referred to as a wandering grandfather, and that couldn’t be more accurate.
Oliver will be at the door ready for entry at 7 o’clock every morning. She claims that every time he did wait at her gate, he would play it off as a huge surprise. Since Melissa moved to the area more than nine years ago, Oliver has been paying a visit to her and her family. She later grew close to Oliver’s mother as well. They made sure Oliver lives in a neighborhood and atmosphere where he is safe and free to pursue his interests, which include exploring and visiting neighbors while they are having breakfast or coffee.
They decided that allowing him to do his own thing would be best because he has always had this spirit of wanting to explore. He returns home each night to his mother Sue, and the cycle is repeated. Oliver’s mother has also placed a GPS tracker so they can know where he is, so he doesn’t just live in a friendly neighborhood; they can also keep track of him. Even at the age of 15, despite his limited hearing and vision, he is still familiar with the area. He has a mental map of everything.
In the area where they live, Oliver has evolved into a sort of local legend. He simply wants to go out and make a difference in other people’s lives. He always did, up until the point where he stopped. In December 2020, Oliver received a diagnosis of spleen masses. Therefore, each day that followed was a surprise, and the days preceding it can be regarded as a miracle. Dogs in general, including senior dogs like Oliver, will never truly pass away. They will always be remembered for the feelings they inflicted on others.