They say things are darkest before the dawn, and things got very, very dark for Snoopy before they became very bright, indeed.
In July 2016, Snoopy was attacked by a larger dog in his household. The big, friendly yellow lab mix sustained bites on his forehead and back, and, worst of all, a broken jaw. Snoopy’s owner surrendered him to the
APL to be euthanized.
The
APL’s veterinary staff examined Snoopy, and concluded that his injuries, though serious, were treatable. This three-year-old pup, it was decided, would benefit from the
APL’s Second Chance Program, a program, supported by donations, that provides veterinary care for shelter animals with significant medical issues. Snoopy had surgery at the
APL to repair his jaw, and his other wounds were treated. He healed quickly, and less than two weeks after the attack, Snoopy was ready to find his new home!
Snoopy’s very bright future is named Sandy Miller. Sandy is a life-long dog-lover. She lost her dog three years ago, and had been waiting for another to come along. She saw Snoopy on the
APL website, and decided to meet him.
During his medical treatment, the veterinary staff discovered that Snoopy had very little eyesight. The
APL staff took him out of his kennel, and outside to meet Sandy. He seemed pretty nervous to be leaving his kennel, passing other animals in the lobby, and heading outside. Rather than being discouraged by this, though, Sandy noticed that Snoopy was willing to try to do whatever was asked of him. She admired his spirit, and took him home that very day. Snoopy’s new life had begun.
And what a life it is! He got a new name, Kirby, to go with his new home. Sandy and her husband live in a house located within a park, with a pond and lots of grass and trees. Kirby has adjusted to his limited vision, and has learned to maneuver on the paved paths. Sandy works from home, so Kirby gets to be with her all the time. He jogs with her every morning, and hikes with her through wooded areas. He plays in the leaves, wades in the pond, and flushes geese that gather near the house, waiting, Sandy says, to feel the wind as they take flight. While Kirby still startles at some things, the brave spirit that Sandy witnessed remains in evidence; Kirby is getting past his fear of fireworks, and working on thunderstorms. And he loves just standing outside, breathing in the fresh air, and smelling the scents of other animals nearby.
Sandy is an accomplished potter who has both a blog (
http://painefalls.blogspot.com) and a podcast; Kirby frequently is in her studio and appears in her broadcasts. When they don’t see him in the studio, his fans inquire about him. And Sandy clearly is his biggest fan of all. “I can't imagine my life without this guy. He makes me slow down, play, see the world a little different... yup, it's a love affair.” Congratulations, Kirby, and thank you, Sandy, for sharing his adventures with us!
Information about the
Cleveland APL
To meet the adoptable animals at the
Cleveland APL, visit our adoption center in Tremont at 1729 Willey Avenue in Cleveland or our PetSmart Charities® Everyday Adoption Center in the Parma PetSmart® store at 6870 Ridge Road. To view all of the animals who are waiting for loving homes online or on your mobile device,
visit www.ClevelandAPL.org or download our free adoptions app on your iOS or Android device.
Our Facebook page is called
“Cleveland Animal Protective League”. Here is the link to it for your reference:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cleveland-Animal-Protective-League/29396512928
Our Twitter handle is
@Cleveland APL. Here is a link:
https://twitter.com/ClevelandAPL
Carmen Rey
Communications & Events Coordinator
Cleveland Animal Protective League