Night Drop

Even through the blanket provided, I felt the cold steel on my belly. I hear the bark of other dogs and a wee kitten meowing for its mother. I turned to see my owner and the door slammed shut. I was alone in that cage, locked in and frightened.  There was a bowl of food and some water, but I did not feel hungry or thirsty. There was a toy, but I did not feel playful. I felt sad and alone, confused and frightened. I couldn’t sleep. I just waited – hoping for her to come back and take me in her arms again.

The hours passed slowly and finally someone came to the door and opened it and took me in their arms; this was not my Mom, who was this person? She seemed kind and brought me to a room where more people came over to see me. They wanted to look at my teeth, check in my ears and ran their hands over my body with a cold hard thing. They seemed relieved that I was not injured.  I felt a pin prick on back and a poke that made me uncomfortable under my tail. Everything was happening so fast and I did not understand all this, but I was no longer frightened and locked in the steel cage.

The kind lady put me in a big room to run and play. I could see out the window at all the people there. They were smiling at me and I felt happier, I smiled back.  One lady had a very big smile when she looked at me and I heard her ask, “Can I go in and see her?”  She opened the door and I ran to her. I jumped up and twirled and she laughed. We played for a long while and she cuddled me in her arms like we were old friends. It felt very good to be held again.

She left the room and went to the desk nearby. I wondered, “Where is she going when we were just having so much fun.” I saw her talking to the man there and then he gave her a pen and a paper. “What was she doing?” She began writing on that paper and it took a long time before she came back.  When she did come back, she picked me up with a long warm hug and put a pretty pink collar around my neck.  Next thing I knew we were outside in the fresh air and into her car, we were taking a ride together. How fun. This was going to be a good day after all.

Deb and her family had been looking for a companion for their little dog, Abby, who was at home. She wandered around and around the shelter looking in all the windows at the dogs waiting to find their new owners. She was a little disappointed she could not find a companion this day.  As she walked towards the exit she saw a beautiful, but sad, little dog staring out the window of the play room.  She went into the room and visited with this dog they called ‘Jovey.’ The dog was excited and happy to see Deb; she jumped up, twirled and ran back and forth. They seemed to have a special bond instantly; the dog had a great personality and reminded her of a dog she had lost recently. It wasn’t long before she called her family to say, “I found our companion dog.”

She left Jovey in the room to go fill out the necessary paperwork and arrange for her to go to the vet’s office to be spayed. While waiting for the vet to come in to examine her they continued getting to know each other. She left her new pet to be spayed and came to pick her up later that day. The reunion with her adoptive family was wonderful and she got to meet her new playmate, Abby, who is a long haired, two year old, Chihuahua/ mix.  Abby had been adopted from the same shelter a few months prior. They were very excited to be friends and Abby showed her the whole house that day and even shared her warm bed and food.  Later that day Deb and her family gave Jovey a new special name, one that would set her apart from her past and allow her to start a new life with her family.  Sofia was now on the road to a very good day and a wonderful life.  

A special thank you to Animal Friends of the Valleys, Wildomar, CA where ‘Sofie’ was adopted from and to the staff that cared for her.  Thank you Dr V. (Dr Nilo Villareal) from Angel Care Pet Hospital in Menifee, CA who is in charge of the Spay and Neuter Clinic for AFV. We do appreciate you all and especially the family who gave Sofie a second chance.

UPDATE – I visited Sofie at her new home this week and she in a very happy girl.  Her demeanor from last week has changed so much in a few days. She is clearly in love with her new family and them with her.  She has two playmates and a beautiful dog park within walking distance. Her owners are wonderful people who are completely dedicated to their animals.  They both have been very blessed. 

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