Adopter Name

Kasandra Fleury

Rescue Dog’s Name

Oliver Twist

Where Did You Find Your Dog?

Petfinder.com… Oliver and his littermates were up for adoption through Great Dog Rescue New England.

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

There have been dogs in my life as far back as I can remember. My protectors as a baby were a huge Alaskan Malamute and an Irish Setter, and my partner-in-crime as a toddler was a Shepherd cross named Clifford. Actually, come to think of it, I can’t recall a moment in my life without the companionship of a canine buddy. I’ve grown up telling my innermost secrets to a pair of deep brown eyes, and hugging a soft, furry body after a hard day at school. I honestly cannot imagine life without a dog in it. Growing up, my family always had either a Labrador Retriever, Shepherd cross, or the family favorite, a Golden Retriever. I have to admit that I always imagined myself more of a Shepherd or Husky kind of person. Sure I went through my beagle phase, and there was that brief stint that I was obsessed with Greyhounds. But deep down, I always thought I would end up with some sort of Sheperdy-cross thing rescued from a shelter. It wasn’t until the summer after my college graduation that the first hound entered my life. That was the day in June when I stumbled across the picture of an adorable, brindle hound pup on the internet. I suppose ‘stumble’ isn’t really the correct word to use. I must have spent hours each evening scanning the adoption websites, hoping to find the right dog. After quite a bit of searching, I came across a Tennessee based rescue. It just so happened that they had a litter of lab/ hound cross puppies up for adoption. I began to fill out the adoption application, excited about the possibility of welcoming one of those bundles of fur into my home. After a phone interview and a home-visit by a volunteer, the phone call came that I had been anticipating for weeks. I had been approved to adopt a little hound named Oliver. I was going to be a mom! I left work early on the day I was to pick up my new charge. The ride to the Park & Ride seemed endless. When my dad and I finally reached our destination, I saw him. He was only 10 weeks old and the size of a young Cocker Spaniel. I will never forget the rush of emotions as I held him for the first time. Tears began to fill my eyes. This was the moment I had dreamed of since I was a little girl… I was finally going to have my own dog to care for. With long, droopy ears and eyes so soft and brown, I knew he was the one I could tell my deepest thoughts to. It was love at first sight… my heart was immediately stolen by a tiny, brindle, hound boy. After filling out the necessary paperwork, it was back to the road again, this time with a furry bundle in tow. Oliver rode on my lap the entire ride. Snuggled up close to his yellow duck toy, Oliver looked like the picture-perfect puppy. He rode like a pro, not a complaint out of him. Then it happened. No more than 10 minutes from home, Oliver began to act odd and proceeded to vomit his lunch all over my hand. Talk about the perfect start to the puppy raising experience. I felt so bad for the little feller that I couldn’t do anything but allow him use of my cupped palm as a vomit-catching receptacle. I made a mental note to never feed Oliver right before a car ride in the future. Despite the car sickness episode, I felt an immediate connection with Oliver. Sometimes you just know you are meant for one another

How Has Your Hero Changed Your Life?

Oliver has been one of the greatest teachers I have ever met. He has helped me become the dog trainer I am today and he continues to teach me about the wonderful world of dogs and about life in general every day. Adding Oliver to my life definitely changed everything. At the time I was a recent college graduate, used to having a schedule that allowed me to go out anytime I wanted and doing whatever I felt like. Adding a puppy to my life gave me responsibility and helped me realize what was really important. He is the gentle spirit who has been there for me thru all kinds of events and he will always be my very first best friend.