Some of us are given the opportunity for “do-overs” in life—to make a change, or to fix something that has gone wrong. But when you’re a helpless animal and your first chance at life doesn’t go as planned, you have to rely on one person—or a number of people—for your second chance. So it was for Poppy, a little Yorkshire Terrier.
When we first met Poppy, it wasn’t clear he’d get a second chance, though he certainly needed one. He was abandoned and left in a cage outside the Cleveland APL on a cold spring morning before the shelter opened. The heartbreaking note attached to his cage read, “Poppy ate rat poison 8 a.m. Please don’t let him suffer. March 25, 2013.” Luckily for Poppy, he was discovered by an APL staff member, who quickly brought him to the APL’s amazing veterinary team, who went right to work. By 9:15 a.m., the tiny dog was sedated and undergoing surgery to rinse the poison from his stomach. Then, Poppy began a course of medication to counteract the effects of the toxins.
Poppy was a lucky pup—he had received medical care in time to save his life. He would get his second chance! And his good luck was about to get even better... When Marla and Jim Murphy learned about Poppy from an APL board member, they had to meet him. Though he was a bit fearful, perhaps owing to his recent “adventure,” the Murphys saw the happy, good-natured dog within him. They introduced Poppy to their two other dogs, Toby and Charlie. The introduction went well, and the Murphys agreed to foster Poppy during his recovery.
The three dogs got along “famously and immediately,” the Murphys report, with “not one snarl or snap amongst them.” It wasn’t long before the Murphys decided to make the arrangement permanent, and adopted Poppy. His second chance was complete—he became, and remains, a vital part of the Murphy family.
Today, Poppy thrives. He loves playing in the backyard, chasing chipmunks and squirrels alongside Toby and Charlie, and meeting new friends in the Village of Bratenahl, where the Murphys live. For the past two years, Marla and Poppy have even been taking part in the Bratenahl Memorial Day Parade, with Marla on her bike and Poppy in the basket! Poppy also is a regular visitor to the New Avenues to Independence group home for mentally challenged women in the Village. He loves to be held, hugged and passed around to each of the women of the home. More friends! The Murphys add, “this five-pound bundle of love and energy thoroughly enjoys his second chance.
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”.
Our Twitter handle is
@Cleveland APL.
Thanks,
Lisa
Cleveland Animal Protective League
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