A Happy Hot Dog

I'll add more to my Joy of Fostering series on Thursday. Tonight I have a good story. The dog above is Danny. Danny and a couple other dogs were abandoned. That fate doesn't seem to happen as much to dogs as cats but this guy and his pals were moved out on and left without food and water. They came in looking as rough and tough as dogs can look. Danny looked downright scary. He seemed big and growly. He was dirty and beat up. He even took a lunge at our heart of gold dog walker and truly, I didn't think he was going to make it into the adoption category. But the staff and volunteers saw something in old Danny, homely as he was. So after a month or two of love, care and the all important neuter, there he was at the local kids Fall Festival last weekend with a volunteer, all filled out and soft. He was wagging his way around the crowd, unselfconsciously wearing a ridiculous hot dog costume, as only dog that loves people can do. He did pee on a stroller but after his past, any minor indiscretions can be forgiven - the baby wasn't even in it at the time. I took the time to tell anyone who would listen the story of his origin, including the local media. Unfortunately, I got upstaged by some guy who was down there giving away darling pit bull/husky mix puppies. Sure they're cute now but a year from now I'll just bet 1 or 2 are with us. Can't think of much worse combination. Anyway, later that day a family with a 13 year old son came in and took Danny to a new home. What a lucky hot dog!

SAD UPDATE: After a few weeks in the new home Danny severely attacked their small dog. He was returned to the shelter and killed. Danny was a victim of a bad owner that never gave him a chance to be the good dog he tried and wanted to be. He wasn't wanted and should never have been born. The dogs he had come in with were killed as well but they hadn't passed the initial evaluation. I still think about Danny.