WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Leo was left in our drop pen. The picture above (left) doesn't reflect how bad he looked and felt on that day. Leo was very thin, suffering from severe diarrhea, dehydration, intestinal parasites and heartworms. He was so weak he wouldn't get off his bed to greet us when we approached him.
Elsa (above right) was brought to us by Animal Control after running around the landfill for months. She was suffering from a dislocated hip that was causing her pain and not allowing her to put weight on the leg. Both dogs needed further medical care but first, we needed to find them fosters.
A couple and their grown daughter stepped forward to foster them. Leo went to live in the daughter's home to regain his health while preparing for his heartworm treatment and Elsa went to the parents home after her hip surgery. Leo went into foster care before Elsa arrived at the shelter and since Elsa needed complete rest after her surgery, they didn't see each other during her recovery.
It just so happened that Leo had an appointment to have his heartworm treatment on the same day Elsa had to have her stitches removed. Leo and Elsa arrived at the Veterinary Hospital in separate cars and so the first time they laid eyes on each other was there. Their tails started wagging and they approached either other to sniff and kiss one another.
We had been speculating that the two might be siblings. What are the odds that there would be two neglected Springer Spaniels the same age in Franklin County? The odds seem very low to us. After seeing them side by side and witnessing the obvious affection they showed each other, we are convinced these two are related.
Below are the fosters with their pups and a picture of the reunion at the Veterinary Clinic. We are thrilled to report that our fosters are "foster failures" and will be adopting these two siblings. They will see each other frequently and both will have warm and loving homes where they will continue to be cherished. A Christmas miracle? We think so!
