In mid December 2018, something happened that has never happened before. A little stray dog entered the property at Bridge of Hope. He had been cruising down Fairmount Ave., which is a very busy street, and turned onto our property. He waddled, (I say waddle because he definitely has a waddle), down the driveway and entered the side gate, where I was working. He was skinny, his hair matted into his skin, and only about five pounds. Immediately he started following me around like we were close friends or something. I definitely didn’t ask him to, or want him to. I thought, “Oh brother….this is just great.” The last thing I needed and wanted was another dog.
My heart was already breaking because of my dog Bo. My beloved twelve year old teacup toy poodle, is daily struggling with heart disease. The days getting more and more difficult with his cough, lack of energy, and heavy breathing. Fearing each day could be his last, whenever I leave the house, I sit with him, and tearfully thank him for being there for me, and being the best dog ever. The week this new little guy showed up, had been really rough, because of Bo’s declining health, that I threatened my children and husband saying, “Promise me, you will never ever get me another dog! I don’t want to go through any more heartache.”
Our visitor ended up following me around all day. After a few hours of this, I decided to get down on the ground with him, where he cuddled right up to me. We ended up playing together, and reluctantly, my heart started to open up to him. My friends were watching me with him, smiling at us from a distance, seeing something was up. I would notice this out of the corner of my eye, and yell across the yard, ” No! I am not doing this!”
I needed to figure out what to do next. I reached out to the Humane Society, and they told me to bring him in. He slept on my lap on the ride there, and laid quietly on my lap as I filled out the paperwork. The workers at the Humane Society, kept stopping to greet him, admiring how cute he was and noticing his sweet personality. They explained that they would keep him for four days and do their best to find his owners. However, due to the fact that there was no chip, identification, and his poor condition, they said he would most likely be placed for adoption. They also told me, because I was the one to “find” him, I would be in first position to adopt him, if he was available. I completely surprised myself and without hesitation blurted out, “I want to adopt him!”
I said my goodbye, gave him a hug, and with some difficulty, handed him over to the lady doing the intake. I left there, a bit worried and prayed for his safety and well being, knowing this could be quite traumatic for him. I also surrendered him to God, wanting whatever was best for this little dog, whether it be with us, or his family. I called every day to check on him. But, on the fourth and final day, they called me and said, ” He is available and ready for you to come and pick him up.”
“We are getting a dog! What am I doing?” I quickly jumped into my truck and headed down to Humane Society to bring him home. The shelter name given to him was Feliz. In our home, his name was to be Levi.
This was the beginning of a incredible and frustrating journey. God has taught me so much through Bo, and now Levi, and their relationship together, so I’ve decided to start writing about it.
Levi the orphan and Bo, who knows he is a son.