Murfree is for real. When Sandy Gower of Moundsville, WV, showed him off at a 4-H program for kids about dog safety and care, one little boy was amazed. "He thought Dalmatians were fictional characters invented for stories about firemen," she says. Sandy is the leader of 4-H Dog Projects in her county.
Sandy had always had Dalmatians and had recently lost her last one. "I often check Petfinder to see Dalmatians that are up for adoption through the various rescues and shelters," she says, and when she saw Hondo, she sensed he was the one. Unfortunately, when she inquired about him, he had already been spoken for.
Read Sandy's description of how she met and adopted Murfree.
Things weren't always going so well for the dog who was once called Hondo. The 5-year-old was with Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia and was suffering from heartworm. Sandy had always had Dalmatians and had recently lost her last one. "I often check Petfinder to see Dalmatians that are up for adoption through the various rescues and shelters," she says, and when she saw Hondo, she sensed he was the one. Unfortunately, when she inquired about him, he had already been spoken for.
Somehow, though, Sandy still believed he was the one for her and, sure
enough, three days later she heard that his potential adopters had taken
a puppy instead. "He was mine," she says.
"He had a very rough time with the medication [for heartworm], but pulled through. After a long trip to Elliston, VA, I got to hug my dog, and it was an instant bond," she says. She changed his name to Murfree after Murfreesboro, TN, where he was originally rescued.
For many of the children in the 4-H group, he was the first Dalmatian they'd ever seen, let alone pet. Thanks to Sandy, the once-homeless dog not only has a home but has become a spokesdog for his breed.
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"He had a very rough time with the medication [for heartworm], but pulled through. After a long trip to Elliston, VA, I got to hug my dog, and it was an instant bond," she says. She changed his name to Murfree after Murfreesboro, TN, where he was originally rescued.
For many of the children in the 4-H group, he was the first Dalmatian they'd ever seen, let alone pet. Thanks to Sandy, the once-homeless dog not only has a home but has become a spokesdog for his breed.
No fenced-in yard required!
After 5 years in a shelter, a three-legged Rottweiler goes home
A deaf senior helps three grieving girls
A dog was 'less adoptable' for an unexpected reason
A woman who needs healing finds a Pit Bull who needs love
A big black dog beats the odds
A rescued Eskie dog makes a 10-year-old's wish come true
'Pit Bull wanted, must love cats'
Dumped by a backyard breeder, a Yorkie gets a second chance
A Labradoodle trades shelter life for spa treatments
Deaf puppy Ollie's whole litter was adopted, but he was still waiting
After five years of waiting, Tiger Tom finds a home
Two Maine Coon cats are adopted after a 6-month search
Inmates partner with pets to give both a second chance
A Petfinder staffer can't resist one pet's profile
A nurturing cat helps another who needs a friend
An injured cat is adopted and becomes a celebrity
A kitten's photo convinces a woman to adopt, not buy
A mama cat is rescued from a home with 50 animals
A rescued Pit Bull brightens the breed's tarnished reputation
A big black dog is perfect for a boy with Down Syndrome
An adopted dog provides the perfect cure for a broken spirit
The puppy had been tightly bungee-corded to a bicycle
A cat with cerebellar hypoplasia teaches unconditional love
A dog inspires a chocolate company; plus: WIN treats from Rescue Chocolate!
Two autistic boys find guinea pigs are perfect pets
