Adopter Name

The Waters Family

Rescue Dog's Name

Lucy

Where Did You Find Your Dog?

I am a volunteer at Save the Animals Foundation (STAF) in Cincinnati. STAF is a no kill shelter known for the remarkable physical and emotional transformations of cats and dogs from various circumstances. The volunteers at STAF are a committed group of dedicated, loving and compassionate people. Lucy was admitted to STAF in May of 2008 at the age of 5 after her previous owner went into hospice. Lucy weighed in at 36.6 lbs when she should have been around 22 lbs. She had never been on a walk before coming to STAF and led a pretty sedentary life.

Tell Us About the Moment When You Knew that You Two Were Meant for Each Other.

I came in for my shift one afternoon in May of 2008 and was walking along the dog runs in the yellow room when I stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of a grossly overweight beagle. It wasn't the size of her that got my immediate attention - it was the sight of her irresistible, cover-dog-of-a-Milk Bone-dog-biscuit-box face that captivated me. It was obvious that she was a loved by her first owner, as she had a gentle and friendly nature. Despite the stresses of shelter life, Lucy patiently and quietly waited her turn for attention. It was her incredible soulfulness that had me hooked. After showing her to several homes without luck over the course of the month, I asked my husband if we could foster her to help her lose weight and get healthy. I wanted to give her a chance to be the dog she was meant to be. She was like a newborn lamb on her walks, jumping with frisky happiness at the chance to exercise. She was always smiling and would give anyone 100% devotion whenever she would receive attention. Our whole family was moved by Lucy's docile and gentle nature, especially my husband. I caught him one time looking at her with such adoration and love that his eyes were welling up with tears. We couldn't imagine life with out her and adopted her on July 4, 2008.

How Has Your Hero Changed Your Life?

Lucy has expanded our hearts in so many ways. We can't imagine life without her. She is hands down a crowd favorite and seems to know how to work her charm with every person she meets. We call her our therapy dog because she has a such a soothing, calming effect on everyone. She is a keeper of secrets, a constant companion, and an an easy heating pad to snuggle with! She has brought us so many moments of happiness and smiles - from her ability to tree climb to her cooing beagle barks, she is always a heart stopper. We could see beyond her immediate physical appearance and instead, we saw her sweet spirit and love of life. It's our hope that this story can sway people towards considering a senior dog and what true bundles of gratitude they really are.