Read the story of Tilly's rescue in her adopter's own words.
Bugsy, an eight-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, was Lauren Morris's dog. He had come with her from her parents' home -- where he had plenty of playmates -- to her marital home. Now he was depressed, missing the little pack of terriers he'd been around all his life. Lauren and her husband decided to get him a companion.
"We both agreed the route of rescue would be best," Lauren says, "giving a forever home to someone in need, rather
than supporting the breeding industry."
The couple asked their veterinarian what kind of dog would be best for Bugsy. The vet suggested that a younger female dog would probably work out well.
Lauren's husband favored German Shepherds, but they figured that was too large a breed to be a good companion for little Bugsy. So they logged on to Petfinder to see what was available and were shocked to see how many homeless pets were in their area.
Before long they zeroed in on a new listing by Doodle Dawgs and Fabulous Felines
in Waldorf, MD. It was a female puppy with markings like a German
Shepherd but who was expected to stay under 40 lbs. as an adult.
She and her littermates had been taken out of an open-admission shelter where their days were numbered due to overcrowding. The Morrises contacted the foster mom, filled out an application and were invited to meet her.
"Other families had gathered to meet the litter, and they were all drawn to our girl," Lauren says. "She stuck out as a diamond in the rough. She was the only one with a longer, silky coat -- dull black with light tan points. The whole litter was friendly, but she was particularly social. My husband picked up our puppy and never put her down."
They had found their dog -- and a friend for Bugsy. Lauren's husband is a firefighter and named the dog Tilly, short for Tiller, a reference to a fire truck.
At first Bugsy was unsure of the new addition to the family, but Lauren says he was curious. "She was small, but held her own and quickly became his puppy."
Or did Bugsy become Tilly's dog? "On the second day in our home," Lauren says, "I called my mother in tears as Tilly cleaned Bugsy's ears for him -- something my first dog had done from Bugsy's puppyhood and something that he had obviously missed since her passing the year before."
Truly, a sweet match for the whole family.
Previous Happy Tails:
Dog vs. puppy: One adopter finds out love is ageless
An energetic Corgi becomes a model neighbor
A seriously ill kitten is saved by her adopters' TLC
After her Pit Bull is killed, fate sends a new best friend
They almost sent him back, but patience -- and training -- paid off
A lonely cat is reunited with her foster home soul-mate
A rescued pit bull helps a daughter through a time of loss
A Pekingese poster child for senior-pet adoption
Two dogs - one with mange, one abused - come home
Saving a starved and scarred Pit Bull
An abandoned cat comes in from the cold
A puppy-mill Chihuahua learns to live outside a cage
Sacrificing to save an abused, overlooked pit bull
A sick, abandoned puppy's incredible before & after pics
Someone sees beauty under the scars
A 'wild' Chinese Crested puppy comes home
A dad with Alzheimer's gets a 'miracle dog'
The rock-star cat who looks like a polar bear
A senior Dalmatian loses weight, gains new life
Lovebirds go from hoarder to happy home
A former bait dog finds safety and love
A perfect match is worth waiting for
A deformed kitten gets a happy ending
The victim of a cruel prank finds happiness
A rescued Border Collie mends a broken heart
She and her littermates had been taken out of an open-admission shelter where their days were numbered due to overcrowding. The Morrises contacted the foster mom, filled out an application and were invited to meet her.
"Other families had gathered to meet the litter, and they were all drawn to our girl," Lauren says. "She stuck out as a diamond in the rough. She was the only one with a longer, silky coat -- dull black with light tan points. The whole litter was friendly, but she was particularly social. My husband picked up our puppy and never put her down."
They had found their dog -- and a friend for Bugsy. Lauren's husband is a firefighter and named the dog Tilly, short for Tiller, a reference to a fire truck.
At first Bugsy was unsure of the new addition to the family, but Lauren says he was curious. "She was small, but held her own and quickly became his puppy."
Or did Bugsy become Tilly's dog? "On the second day in our home," Lauren says, "I called my mother in tears as Tilly cleaned Bugsy's ears for him -- something my first dog had done from Bugsy's puppyhood and something that he had obviously missed since her passing the year before."
Truly, a sweet match for the whole family.
Previous Happy Tails:
Dog vs. puppy: One adopter finds out love is ageless
An energetic Corgi becomes a model neighbor
A seriously ill kitten is saved by her adopters' TLC
After her Pit Bull is killed, fate sends a new best friend
They almost sent him back, but patience -- and training -- paid off
A lonely cat is reunited with her foster home soul-mate
A rescued pit bull helps a daughter through a time of loss
A Pekingese poster child for senior-pet adoption
Two dogs - one with mange, one abused - come home
Saving a starved and scarred Pit Bull
An abandoned cat comes in from the cold
A puppy-mill Chihuahua learns to live outside a cage
Sacrificing to save an abused, overlooked pit bull
A sick, abandoned puppy's incredible before & after pics
Someone sees beauty under the scars
A 'wild' Chinese Crested puppy comes home
A dad with Alzheimer's gets a 'miracle dog'
The rock-star cat who looks like a polar bear
A senior Dalmatian loses weight, gains new life
Lovebirds go from hoarder to happy home
A former bait dog finds safety and love
A perfect match is worth waiting for
A deformed kitten gets a happy ending
The victim of a cruel prank finds happiness
A rescued Border Collie mends a broken heart
