A rescue success story: Sandy and Boomer

Boomer, above, and his best friend Sandy now make frequent trips to the park, where their new owner says "they run and chase and have a wonderful time.... Boomer now flat-out runs with his tail in a straight line behind him."

Thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized each year at the L.A. city shelters (the statistics can be a pretty unsettling read). But what of the lucky ones who find new homes? 

Mirja Bishop, a volunteer at the West L.A. animal shelter, tells us, "The greatest joy for a volunteer or animal control technician is to be instrumental in the adoption of one of their shelter animals. Smiles and high-fives always accompany the words, 'We have an adoption!' "

Shelter workers hope for the best, but rarely get to follow up on an animal once it's been adopted.  Mirja shares a story of two exceptions to that rule. 

We'll let her take it from here:

In April, two beautiful German shepherd dogs were picked up as strays by the South L.A. animal shelter staff.  Because of overcrowding at that facility, the future for these dogs did not look bright and their days there were numbered. Through the efforts of several volunteers and shelter staff members, the inseparable pair was transferred to the West L.A. shelter, where their chances of being adopted seemed better. Day after day, week after week, they waited.

Sandy loves to run and is "soooooo fast. She flies," says her new owner, Mary.

In mid-July, almost three months after they were first picked up as strays, a lady who knew and loved shepherds came to the shelter to see them. She had seen them online and was definitely interested.

She walked around the play yard with them and it was obvious that she had experience working with large dogs. It was wonderful to see these two best friends racing around the yard in tandem like two racehorses. It was as if they knew that something wonderful was about to happen. I was a new volunteer at the time and I remember saying a quiet prayer that maybe, just maybe, this would be their lucky day.

Her decision was quick and unhesitating: she wanted both of them. I reached toward her and very spontaneously gave her a hug. We exchanged e-mail addresses and promised to stay in touch. There were very few dry eyes at the shelter that afternoon as we watched them leave.

Normally this is where the story ends, but not this time: I've had the privilege of staying in touch with Mary, who adopted Karen and Ed (or Sandy and Boomer, as they're now known). She loves her new family and they obviously love her, too. "When I come home they get so excited that they chase each other around the house in circles," she says.

How wonderful it would be to know the history of these two dogs. Perhaps they have been together their entire lives, or maybe they met on the streets of L.A. We'll never know, but what we do know is that there is incredible love and affection between them. Mary shares an example of their bond: "They were lying on the living room floor when all of a sudden Sandy started to gnaw on Boomer's muzzle. Then she rolled over and he gnawed on her muzzle. She then wormed her way on the floor and put her paws on Boomer’s shoulders." 

They have shared the bad times together and now they can share the good times. "Boomer's eyes are no longer sad,"  Mary says.

For information on how to adopt your own dog or cat (or even bunny or lizard), check out the L.A. Department of Animal Services website.

--Lindsay Barnett

Photos: Boomer (top) and Sandy (bottom right) courtesy of the L.A. Department of Animal Services.

Comments

[Graham]

Anyone who's thinking of rescuing an animal, don't think, just do it. I've had my rescue for 2 years now he's the most loving thing that's every come into my life. You won't regret it. Visit your local shelter today and find your own furry little friend.