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Happy “Tails”

Happy “Tails”
by
September 19, 2024
in Humane Education Column
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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair

Recently, friends of mine witnessed for their first time, a dog being reunited with his owner. They describe it as a moment of pure joy, with “lots of tail-wagging, wiggles, and tears.”

This couple, who are not themselves pet owners, helped make that reunion happen. When a scared, stray dog appeared on their back porch, they put out water and food. Realizing the dog did not want to be approached, they took a photo of him and contacted the local authorities and the Ark-Valley Humane Society.

The photo and information was posted on the AVHS website and on the Facebook group “Chaffee County Lost and Found Pets”. The next morning, the owner saw the posting and contacted my friends. Of course, by that time, the dog had vanished.

Fortunately, the dog returned in the afternoon for water and food and decided to sun himself in his new safe spot. The dog lingered long enough for the owner to arrive and the spectacular reunion to occur.

My friends called AVHS to give them the good news and thank them for their help in reuniting a lost dog with his loving owner.

The AVHS staff love happy-ending stories like this. One other “tail” is a bit more unusual. It is about Obi who turned out to be one very lucky dog.

Obi was found in Texas, wandering alone with a chain buried in his neck. He was in bad shape: dehydrated, malnourished, and flea-infested. His finders immediately got him much needed medical attention. It was assumed that Obi had been chained up, but had somehow managed to escape. No owner could be found.

His finders became his new family, loving Obi for four years, but then had to move and sadly, could not find a place that allowed pets. Wanting Obi to continue to have a good life, they surrendered him to the Ark-Valley Humane Society. They knew the shelter would find him a good home, and they did.

A family who had recently lost their “golden” learned about the surrendered dog through a volunteer at the shelter. Although still grieving and not quite ready to adopt, Obi won their heart. When his new mom, who collects hearts, saw a heart shaped marking on the top of his head, she knew Obi was meant for them.

Obi, 60 percent “golden” and 40 percent super mutt, proved to be quite energetic and a bit mischievous, but with obedience training, he learned better manners and even became a certified therapy dog. He now loves on and calms his family and those he meets when he visits the Salida hospital and schools.

Obi is living a good life. Being found by wonderful humans was a lucky day for him. He had to say goodbye to them, but Obi had one more stroke of good fortune.

Obi was at a school’s front desk, waiting to have children read to him, and at the same time a father was dropping off his son’s backpack. It was the man who found him in Texas! The recognition was instantaneous and the reunion tremendous with hugging, crying and much tail wagging.

Since then, Obi’s two families have become friends, and Obi has all his humans to love. Obi is one lucky dog.

Dog and owner reunions are heart-warming, “happy tails,” as my friends had the pleasure to witness and continue to share with others.

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