There have been so many animals that have come through the shelter it is impossible to remember them all. Some do stand out. Some happy, some not so much. The family that came in every single weekend for almost 6 months looking for “just the right dog”. They were so excited when they found the right one. There are also the sad cases of abuse or neglect. “Wyatt” came to the SPCA through our veterinarian who was working at a vaccine clinic. The people who found him took him to the clinic and she told them to bring him to us. He had broken a front leg and it didn’t heal straight. He has a great mom now and he is a service dog.
People always say “I could never do this job” or ask how I manage to not take them all home. I know that we are doing our best to find them a great home. There have been a few I almost kept. “Sami” is a black & white Chihuahua about 4 years old now. She came in with a puppy too large for her stuck in the birth canal. We were told they bred her to a boxer. We got the puppy out and our veterinarian saved her. I came very close to keeping her. I fostered her and she never did spend a night in the shelter. An amazing home presented itself and I had to let her go. I didn’t want to but I knew it was best for her. She is completely spoiled and loving life.
There have been the pets who’s owners passed away and no family members could take them. The pets of families who have lost their homes or the new baby is allergic. The reasons go on and on. One of my favorite stories is the man who came in trying to solve a problem. He was waiting for a job to start in two weeks and didn’t have the money to buy dog food and didn’t want to surrender them. He just needed a little help. We were able to provide him with a bag of dog food. A month or so later the same guy came back with a cash donation and several bags of dog food.
The thing that keeps me motivated to do this job is the knowledge that we are making a difference.
