In a quiet corner of the animal shelter, a man named John arrived with the intention of adopting a Pit Bull named Max. Max, a resilient and gentle soul, had been through a tumultuous journey before finding refuge in the shelter. His striking features and warm brown eyes had caught John’s attention through an online adoption profile.
As John entered the shelter, a wave of anticipation mixed with nervousness washed over him. He had read about Max’s past struggles and was determined to provide him with a loving home. The shelter staff greeted John warmly, leading him to Max’s enclosure.
Upon reaching Max’s kennel, John was met with an unexpected sight. Max, a robust and muscular Pit Bull, was not alone. Nestled beside him was a smaller, frail dog with expressive eyes that mirrored Max’s own kindness. The bond between the two was palpable, and it became evident that they were inseparable companions.
Curiosity and compassion overcame John as he inquired about the smaller dog’s story. The shelter staff explained that the smaller dog, named Buddy, had been rescued alongside Max from an abusive environment. The two had formed an unbreakable bond during their time at the shelter, providing each other comfort and solace.
As John entered the shelter, a wave of anticipation mixed with nervousness washed over him. He had read about Max’s past struggles and was determined to provide him with a loving home. The shelter staff greeted John warmly, leading him to Max’s enclosure.
Upon reaching Max’s kennel, John was met with an unexpected sight. Max, a robust and muscular Pit Bull, was not alone. Nestled beside him was a smaller, frail dog with expressive eyes that mirrored Max’s own kindness. The bond between the two was palpable, and it became evident that they were inseparable companions.
Curiosity and compassion overcame John as he inquired about the smaller dog’s story. The shelter staff explained that the smaller dog, named Buddy, had been rescued alongside Max from an abusive environment. The two had formed an unbreakable bond during their time at the shelter, providing each other comfort and solace.
As John observed the dynamic between Max and Buddy, a realization dawned on him. Adopting Max meant adopting Buddy as well, for their connection was a testament to the strength of their companionship. Undeterred by the unexpected twist, John decided to open his heart and home to both dogs, acknowledging the profound impact they had on each other.
The adoption process unfolded with paperwork and joyful tail wags. Max and Buddy, now aware that their lives were about to take a positive turn, emanated gratitude in their every glance. As they left the shelter, John could feel the gratitude and loyalty radiating from the two dogs, and a sense of fulfillment settled within him.
Back at John’s home, Max and Buddy seamlessly integrated into their new surroundings. It became evident that their bond wasn’t just born out of shared adversity but was a testament to the resilience of love and the healing power of companionship. Max, initially adopted for his strength and protectiveness, showed a tender and nurturing side when it came to looking out for Buddy.
In the weeks that followed, John witnessed the transformation of the two dogs. Max’s once guarded demeanor softened, and Buddy, once timid and fearful, blossomed under the reassuring presence of his loyal friend. Their story became a beacon of hope for the shelter staff and an inspiration for others considering pet adoption.
The narrative of Max and Buddy demonstrated that adoption is not merely a one-way act of kindness; it is a reciprocal exchange of love and trust. John, thinking he was saving Max, found himself equally saved by the unwavering friendship of these two resilient souls. The once broken spirits of Max and Buddy mended each other, creating a harmonious melody of healing in the quiet corners of John’s home.
A pilot gives a homeless dog an opportunity to live out her last days with a loving and committed family by flying her 400 miles
Doctors said that she only had a couple of weeks to live, so this pilot flew her to her adoptive family 400 miles away so that her final days would be filled with love.
Ashlyn was an elderly dog in a North Carolina shelter, and she wasn’t doing well. She’d lost a lot of weight and had sarcomas, which were malignant tumors beneath her skin. But it wasn’t too late for her to strike gold.
When the New England Humane Society (NEHS) identified a suitable home for Ashlyn to spend the last few weeks of her life, all she needed was a means to get there. So the founder of Flying Fur Animal Rescue (FFAR), Paul Steklenski, decided to fly her up on his plane.
Steklenski became sad as he piloted the plane with Ashlyn in the seat next him, thinking about how this may be her final flight anywhere.
Even though Steklenski is used to transporting needy puppies to rescues so they may find loving homes — he normally transports between 15 to 30 dogs each month — the elderly dogs particularly tug at his heartstrings. “Those are the ones where you really focus on what they’re going through,” Steklenski explained to The Dodo.
Ashlyn was nervous at the bit of the two-hour travel. “She seemed a touch distant at first,” Steklenski remarked. “Then she’d kind of open up a bit and get closer.”
He surely made her feel better by feeding her dog treats. “She then gave me one paw, then the other,” he explained.
“She then rested her head on my lap,” Steklenski explained. “That means a lot to me. That is all that is important. That is the prize in and of itself.”
Steklenski decided to take up flying as a hobby in 2013, at the same time he adopted a dog. These items were unconnected at the time, but they were irrevocably intertwined soon after.
“We went to pet stores, then to shelters, and began to discover the difference,” Steklenski told The Dodo last year. When he discovered how many needy animals are in shelters, he decided to put his new hobby to good use.
Ashlyn would not be where she is now if it weren’t for him. While everyone assumed they were transporting her to the hospital, her recovery has led rescuers to believe she may have more time than they imagined.
“Her condition crushed me when I brought her up from the airport,” Tracy Lander, who has three dogs of her own and has been fostering dogs for the NEHS for two years, told The Dodo. “She had lost 39 pounds and her optimum weight is between 65 and 70 pounds. She came to me wearing a sweater, and when I removed it, I could see every rib.”
Lander began feeding Ashlyn three times a day to help her gain weight. She also gave her vitamins to assist her deal with her numerous health issues, which ranged from skin problems (induced by chemical burns) to cancers.
Ashlyn gradually began to change. “She’s getting out more,” Lander observed. “She’s a fantastic eater… and she adores me.”
Ashlyn has even begun to cuddling with Angel, another of Lander’s dogs. Xander, Lander’s boxer mix, has also expressed an interest in connecting with Ashlyn. “He’ll simply walk up to Ashlyn and start licking her,” Lander said. “He believes that he can heal everyone with his mouth.”
Ashlyn moved in with the Landers in January, and no one knew how long she’d be there. Now that it’s April, they don’t think of her as the fospice dog, but rather as someone who reminds them to live in the now and cherish every day — which is always a wonderful lesson.
“She understands she is adored,” Lander added. “No matter what happens, she knows she is loved.”
No one expected Ashlyn to make such significant leaps the day she boarded Steklenski’s plane. She went from being a tired shelter dog to becoming a member of a loving family, which is precisely why Steklenski does what he does.
“I never envisioned discovering something so wonderful, so rewarding that it would eclipse practically everything else in my life,” Steklenski remarked.
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