What a story plus a happy ending!
This true story comes from animal lover, dog rescuer and Redwood Writer, Brigid Wasson. I highly recommend you find and friend Brigid on Facebook and visit her Website. I posted Brigid Wasson’s bio sketch and links to her Facebook Pages at the bottom.
Brigid Wasson wrote on Facebook.
Tonight renewed my faith in the “RTO (Return To Owner) Program” that Sue Padgett and I started so long ago. Too little emphasis is placed on owner reclaims of “stray” pets in shelters, something I am working hard to change.
A young couple was in a major car accident, leaving the woman disabled and in a wheelchair. Without transportation and unable to work, they fell on hard times after the accident. They had to move in with a relative who later kicked them out, and the person they trusted to care for their dog dropped him off at the County shelter. The dog wasn’t doing well at the shelter, so the director called and asked if I would take him to the humane society. We had no room, so he went to a foster home. A week later, the County shelter director called again and said the real owners had been identified. When they went to get their dog back from the person caring for him, they learned of the deception and felt devastated.
Tonight, we delivered the dog to his owner in Ukiah. As soon as I turned into the parking lot of Safeway, he saw him and went crazy, whining and jumping at the window. I opened the door and he leaped into his arms, licking his face and howling “I love you.” The owner burst into tears and hugged him tight, thanking us many times. I had intended to get a photo for Facebook, but in the dark, in the rain, it was a private moment too sacred to capture. Even so, it will be in my mind forever, reaffirming why we do what we do.
Return to Owner story replies on Facebook
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Brigid’s replyWe are so quick to judge when most of us are one injury or illness away from disaster, and life can change in a moment. We gave them our numbers and assured them that they can call us if they run into trouble again.Awesome story! Never enough happy endings!This is one thing that pulls at my heart strings. Seeing a grown man cry so hard when we open the truck door and his little dog leaped into his arms and started licking him on his teary eyed face. It was a great reunion for all of us. OH WHAT A STORY! I Love it. Thank you for being you Brigid. Great story Brigid. Those are priceless rewards we at shelters need to hear.What a wonderful story, reaffirms my faith in The goodness of people. We live for these moments!Please visit the Website of Brigid Wasson Good Dogs Pet Sitting and her Facebook PageAnimal Shelter Success. Brigid Wasson worked for the County of Santa Clara Animal Shelter as their supervisor. She now owns and runs two business, Good Dogs Pet Sitting and The Path Ahead Animal Shelter Consulting.Since it was too dark for photographs or video, here’s another wonderful Return To Owner story.By the way my Redwood Writer friend, Robin, reblogged this on her WordPress blog. Robin writes finely detailed and inspired fiction and nonfiction, often about horses or with a western horse ranch as her setting. Go check out her blog at www.robinofrockridge.comPlus this Monday February 23, Paul Hanover plans to re-blog it on his “Learning from Dogs.” Turns out Robin, Paul and I all share, not only a love of dogs and of learning about animals, we all love horses and western style trail riding too.
robinofrockridge says
Reblogged this on Robin of Rockridge's Blog.
Paul Handover says
Republishing this over on Learning from Dogs tomorrow (Monday).
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks Paul I appreciate your blog and your writing,. I love to know ahead of time when you plan to reblog one of my posts (a lesson in manners for me!). So curious about your new venture & writers’ club. Perhaps we can set up an other phone chat?