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A WONDERFUL “THANK YOU” STORY
[Editor’s Note: Sometimes we receive
wonderful notes from people who have adopted animals from the
LA/SPCA. This one is particularly special, as we hear about
Duncan who was adopted in 1994 and has given his guardian the
gift of a life with a “once in a lifetime” friend. Duncan truly
shows us that a person hasn’t truly lived until they’ve
experienced the amazing friendship that comes from sharing a
life with a companion animal.] |
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Dear LA SPCA,
I was 22 and living on my own when I decided it was time for me
to go get a dog. We had all sorts growing up and I had recently
had a roommate with two Chihuahuas, so I had a small dog in
mind. When I entered the Japonica St shelter on November 19,
1994, my criteria was a small female adult dog. I walked down
the first row of cages and paused at the most unique dog I had
ever seen - a large-ish male husky mix. I went through the rest
of the shelter looking at every dog and found myself back at
"Sky"-
 apparently
his time had been up long ago, but he was a favorite of one of
the shelter staff and had gotten some extra time. If I remember
right, two months, very unusual for such a crowded shelter.
After a quick trip to the dog yard I decided he was the one and
off to the clinic we went for a neuter. There I persuaded them
to let me pick him up the same day - as I had convinced the
adoption counselor that he would be okay without a fenced yard
and no firm landlord permission!
He soon became "Duncan" and the best pet anyone could ask for.
Within a week on getting him we were walking down Magazine
Street and I glanced down and there was a newspaper laying in a
yard by the sidewalk opened to the page with
his
picture as pet of the week from the week before! That really
happened! Later in the day we ran into someone from the shelter
sitting outside of the coffee shop and she recognized him and
commented how unusual for a pet of the week not to be adopted.
 After
a few years we relocated to Seattle and in the almost 13 years I
have had him he has been to about half the states, met many
celebrities, has been in magazines, and has been the most well
adjusted and trustworthy companion you could want. I now have a
multi dog household and am active in volunteering for our local
shelter and one for senior dogs called Old Dog Haven. Sometimes
when someone is young, but has a good heart, I try to give them
a chance when I think of myself going to the shelter in my early
twenties!
Duncan has slowed down, but he is still very young at heart and
loves to run at the park and is kept in great shape with good
food and acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments from a
holistic vet. People sometimes talk about there "once in a
lifetime" dog and I feel so lucky to have found that in my first
and to have had so much time with him! I know the shelter has
had a rough time these last few years and I wanted to share my
story. The staff is probably not the same and I know many, many
dogs have passed through over these years, most never to be
heard from again. Thank you for your hard work that has brought
many of us together with our best friends!
Lisa Black & Duncan |
