Sweet William's Happy Ending
Sweet William was brought in to our veteniary clinic by animal control May 2001. This poor dog was clearly one of the worse abuse situations we have ever seen. Terrible emanicated, his body burned from cigarettes, his eye had been put out by his owner. He was nursed back to health, going from a 25 pounds dog to 100 pounds.
He was placed in June 2001 into a home, but was returned in September 2001 after finding out he was dog aggressive. He spend most of the next year in boarding because we could not find a foster home without dogs and we also were not successful at finding him a permanent home (one eye dog aggressive pitbulls are not that easy to place). Hope was looking bleak... Sweet William had been featured in the local newspaper, had a couple of spots on TV, we put various stories on our website about him even dressed him up as a pirate and still no real interest had been shown in anyone giving this boy a home.
Then in October 2002, one of our generous volunteers and supporters, Marilyn Wayne, sponsored Sweet William so he could attend a doggie rehab program to make him more socialized with other dogs and thus making him more adoptable. Sweet William made wonderful progress there.... best of all he was out of boarding and roaming freely with other dogs. Life was much better for our big boy....
The story of course gets better for this boy as the New Year emerged his life took a major turn.... a true miracle headed his way. Sweet William's story had come to the attention of an employee of the Regency Oaks Care Center, a beautiful nursing home facility located in Long Beach. The facility had been looking for a resident dog to be a companion pet for their 88 residents. She had seen our posters at the Petco where we hold our adoptions, then came to our adoption fair on January 4 to discuss the possiblity of Sweet William going to the nursing home to be a permanent resident.
A couple of days later a couple of volunteers brought Sweet William in for a "audition". He was dress in a t-shirts saying "Sweet William" and a red beret hat. He passed his audition like the true champ he is. The residents raved about him... he was a real hit!! We always knew he could make anyone smile with that sweet face of his and his silly expressions, but the reaction of the residents was truly touching, Sweet William really reached out to them and the affection and love felt in that room was truly astounding.
Not only had Sweet William won them all over, but the 88 residents were arguing who would get to sleep with him! People who couldn't talk were clapping and pounding the table. He sat proudly in Marilyn's lap, all 100 pounds of him, with his tee shirt on, and a beret, waving to the residents, he stood so quietly as the woman who couldn't move from her bed reached as far as she could to pat his giant head. Both of the volunteers who brought him there, just cried for joy for this amazing dog. He was meant to die at the hands of humans, now his job is to keep humans alive. It just doesn't get any better than this! Sweet William now has the run of the beautiful place, dining room, he has it all... and most important he has the love and attention of 88 different people. This has got to be "the adoption of the century"... a true miracle!!
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