Some Things You Just Can’t Afford

November 10, 2014

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On October 1^st of this year, Priceless Pet Rescue Director, Mandy Stover, sent me down to the Orange County Animal Shelter to pull a dog that had been dumped by his family. He had a softball sized tumor on his stomach and this was his last day to be pulled before they euthanized him. I had been warned this could be a hospice case as his tumor was deemed cancerous. After going through what may be the most challenging month of September I’ve gone through with losing puppies to Parvo and another foster to old age, I was warned this could be a hospice case. But there was no way this dog was going to die in a cold unloving shelter. Fast forward to November 7^th and I’m now writing his letter…

Dear Tater Tot,

Oh what a journey it’s been for you. I could only imagine what was going through your head when your family dumped you at the shelter. I wonder if they knew they were signing off on your death sentence by leaving you there. I could only imagine how lonely you must have felt day in and day out sleeping on that concrete floor with that huge tumor on your stomach. I’ve been let down before but I could only imagine the feeling you felt every time you rubbed that tumor wrong and looked around for your family for comfort only to find out they were nowhere to be found.

I don’t know if you know this but it was Mandy that saved you. She’s the head of the Pittie Crew and she’s the one who sent me down there to pull you. This is all started with her. And the day I went down there, I saw your sad face and this enormous dog crying at us. It was as if you knew why I was there. We took you in the play yard to evaluate you and there was a cat in the yard. The cat didn’t move and you put your nose up the cat, wagged your tail and walked away. That was all I needed to see. We finished up your paperwork and you were off to your new foster home with me!

The first thing we did was get those nasty tumors removed from your stomach. You had 3 and they were able to remover 2 ¾ of those tumors. The mass was too big. The good news was it hadn’t spread but the bad news was you still had cancer. Never once did I let this sway from the fact I was going to find you a home. I made you a promise the day you got pulled from the pound and I wasn’t going to break it.

You didn’t care too much to be around the rest of my pack and that was fine but it meant I had to do this without the help of my pack. I had set you up a room in my house but for some reason you wanted to be in the garage so I found you a mattress and you genuinely seemed happy in there but I knew you would be happiest on someone’s couch. Still, I made sure to lay with you on that mattress every day and I would tell you stories about your future family and how happy you would make them. I’m sure my neighbors were wondering who I was talking to but I didn’t care. We went on walks every day and you never looked like you let the cancer bother you so I didn’t let it bother me.

Everyone that met you fell in love with you but your cancer scared off a lot of people. It probably didn’t help that you weren’t best pals with Penny, Elvis and Wally but that was alright. I would find you a home with no dogs.

Then a few days ago I got a phone call from a buddy that I had known for over 10 years. I met him and his wife in a bowling league I used to be in. All of a sudden, I’m so thankful my ex-girlfriend forced me to bowl! His family had already adopted a dog from Priceless Pets and they had fallen in love with you. Only problem was they had 5 Chihuahua mixes and while you didn’t need to be best pals with them, you had to coexist with them. We had agreed to let you stay for 5 days over there. They knew how to do the “doggy shuffle” and they knew the time and patience it would take to integrate you into their pack.

The day he picked you up you looked at him like it was love at first sight. He had to take a phone call and as he walked to his car you followed him out into the street. I called your name and for the first time in 5 weeks you didn’t come when I called you. Instead, you jumped right into his car, laid down in his back seat and had this HUGE smile on your face as if to say, “Let’s go”. I knew it right then. You found your home but I didn’t want to jinx it so I didn’t say anything. Off you guys went and I was just hoping for the best but I had a feeling you weren’t coming back.

3 days later I get woken up with a text saying they’ve made their decision. We are only into day 3 of 5 and you’ve found your new home! You’re integrating well into the home and the little dogs in the house are even letting you go on walks with them!

Your old owners couldn’t afford your cancer so they dumped you. The Pittie Crew couldn’t afford to see you die in a shelter so they pulled you. Your new family couldn’t afford to see you homeless so they adopted you. Your promise has been fulfilled.

Happy Tails, Tater Tot. And just like I say to all my fosters, you will have the best rest of your life ever. We all love you. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and other to never give up…ever.

The only thing better than saving a dog from a certain and unfair death is the day you find the family that will never put them in that position again.

I love you, buddy.

Love,

John