Pongo

Pongo is a 2 yr. old dal who was rescued from a New York animal shelter where he had been scheduled for euthanasia. Pongo's history was not a happy one. Turned into the shelter by an owner, who had completely lost interest in him, Pongo was extremely thin and emaciated. His owner openly admitted to the shelter people that sometimes he had money for dog food and sometimes he didn't. His owner also couldn't be bothered to even tell the shelter people the dog's name, so they called him Pongo. He also still bears the scars of wearing a collar that was far too tight and had imbedded itself into his neck. Pongo had suffered an extremely severe ear infection that had been left untreated for so long that he is now partially deaf as a result. He can hear loud noises and high pitched sounds but is unable to hear the normal day to day sounds.

Willing Hearts took Pongo in and he went to a foster home. However within a few months the foster mom could not keep him any longer and we had to find another foster home for this sweet sweet boy who had already suffered so much. About this time we heard from a wonderful gentleman named Dave who lives in NJ who was interested in becoming a foster dad. The timing could not have been better and we made arrangements to have Pongo transported to Dave. When he arrived he was pitifully thin, his ears were badly infected again and he had a growth on his eyelid. Dave took him to his vet and got him the medical care he needed, and took him home for some TLC and lots of love that he craved. Pongo got along wonderfully with Dave's female dal, and it seemed a match made in heaven.

Through Dave's vet we learned of a couple who were looking for a dal. They came to meet him and fell instantly in love with this wonderful boy. Talk about a match made in heaven!!!! Dave and his dally were reluctant to see him go, but knew he would be loved and cared for. Things were fine for a few months and then Pongo got sick. His family took him to their vet, and because of the severe ear infections he had endured through the years, the vet recommended that his inner ear be removed. This was a costly operation, but his family scraped up the money. Today Pongo is one happy boy. He has a warm bed, food and medical care when he needs it. But most of all, he has the love and devotion of his family who have opened up their home and hearts to him. And he doesn't live far from Dave, so still gets to see his foster dad from time to time. Of course, Pongo's family is the luckiest of all, as Pongo gives back so much more love and devotion. Pongo has seen the bad times and knows that each day from now on is a new beginning!

This is Pongo at the 2003 Willing Hearts Picnic with his dad & then playing hard like all dogs should!