When animal and wildlife control officers found Sanford, they described him as a broken dog. He was rescued after being hit by a car, which left the poor pup unable to walk. To make matters worse, they also found a bullet wound in his right hind leg.
It was a situation that was difficult to recover from, but with the help of the right people, Sanford has now gone from being a “broken” dog to a smiling one!
After being rescued by animal and wildlife control, the team brought Sanford to a small municipal shelter in Dallas, Texas. The dog stayed there for a week but the shelter didn’t have enough resources, so he wasn’t able to receive any medical care despite his injuries.
When a volunteer for Dallas DogRRR, Kerry Anechiarico, saw Sanford for the first time, she knew she had to help him.
“He was physically broken … and when the volunteer went to see him, he didn’t really make any effort to come and say hello,” Kerry told The Dodo. “It’s almost like he had given up, and he was just waiting for his time to come.”
But all that changed when Sanford was put under the care of Karen Velazquez, his foster mom, who describes him as the happiest dog she’s ever met.
“He came to my home on May 1, just a few days after he was released from the hospital,” Karen told The Dodo. “He has been all smiles ever since. I think the minute he came to my home, he realized he was in a safe place.”
“I am presently on my 52nd foster, and I can genuinely say that I’ve never had anyone as jovial as him,” she said. “He looks at me in a way that no other animal or human has ever looked at me, including my own pets. Essentially, the only time he is not smiling is when he is asleep or eating.”
It’s no wonder why Sanfee – as Karen calls him – is so happy living with his mom. Aside from spending his days eating delicious, home-cooked meals, Karen takes him on daily walks and he gets to play with the other pups in the house. He was living every dog’s dream life!
Sanford is considered a senior at 10 years old, but his actions reflect that of a much younger dog.
“He’s pretty much a normal dog for a senior of 10 years,” Kerry said. “He’s like the older gentleman that you see in a nursing home. He may be 95 years old, but he acts like he’s in his 50s.”
While he may be the happiest dog in Karen’s care, everyone wants to see him find a forever family.
“He’ll be a great family dog,” Kerry said. “He’ll get along with other dogs and all humans. He even does well with kids.”
“He’s the perfect companion dog that you can come home to,” she added. “He’ll wag his tail and greet you, and he’ll just keep you company for the rest of the day. He’s just a happy-go-lucky dog now.”
From being rescued by animal and wildlife control in the most horrible condition to recovering beautifully in the arms of a loving carer, Sanford’s development to becoming the best dog he can be is a beautiful journey. And what would complete it is a perfect family who he could shower with love forever!
For interested adopters, you may contact Dallas DogRRR.
Story h/t : The Dodo (This site is for everyone who loves animals and wants to spread that love and make the world a better place for them.)