Penny From Heaven...Or From Harlem to the Hamptons

"I looked at all the caged animals...the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry.

"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"

God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly.

"I have done something—I created you."—Jim Willis, Humanitarian

Aloise is a strong woman with a big heart—both necessary ingredients when one’s job is working in a city animal shelter.

Recently, Aloise lost her job at the shelter. It was so sudden. She hadn’t seen it coming. “Now what?” Aloise felt like she was in free fall.

So many folks are going through this shocking, life-changing experience. One could just take a deep breath and hope it doesn’t last too long.

One of the dogs at the shelter, a female Pit Bull named Penny, at risk of being euthanized because there were just so many dogs and not enough adopters.

Aloise’s heart went out to Penny. Without thinking about her personal upheaval of losing her job, she took the young puppy home.

When they visited friends, Penny was so gregarious and playful. Aloise thought, "This is what I need. Penny is so lively and full of love. What a comfort to have her to care for."

Then the problems began. Living in the Bronx where there were dog fighting rings and lots of kids who had nothing better to do than hang out on corners, is not a place to be walking a young red-nosed Pit Bull without being noticed.

On every walk, Aloise and Penny would hear, “Hey lady, is that a Pit? Is she for sale?" or “Hey, that Pit looks like she’d be a good fighter” and other unmentionable commentary.

These daily harangues were too much for Aloise. She feared for Penny and for herself. She just couldn’t take the negative energy. So she decided since moving wasn’t an option, it would be better to find Penny a more appropriate forever home.

My colleague at GUIDEPOSTS, Alina, is friends with Aloise and she asked if I would contact her and help place Penny, so I talked to Aloise, interviewing her about Penny’s behavior and health. I listed Penny on my Petfinder page.

The odyssey of finding a forever home for a pet can be long and drawn out. First you must wean out those callers who might be involved in dog fighting rings, and others who are just idly curious and have no intention to adopt.

Since Penny is young, well behaved and so beautiful, there began to be some real interest. Aloise interviewed each family visiting their homes, seeing if Penny and their dogs would get along and considering a weekend trial adoption.

Although all applicants seemed acceptable, knowledgeable and experienced dog owners, Aloise kept finding little reasons why the placement wouldn’t work. One couple had a small apartment that Aloise didn’t feel was enough for Penny and their dog. Another family didn’t seem to be that experienced, etc...

She heard a nagging little voice in the back of her mind as she looked at little Penny’s soft, trusting eyes that kept saying, “I don’t know, I just don’t know.”

Her head was swimming with all of the questions about her life, her dog, her job, and decided to take a friend up on an offer for her and Penny to stay at a house in the Hamptons. Both needed a rest from the feeling of living on the edge.

We continued e-mailing back and forth, discussing Penny’s adoption possibilities, and she would always end our conversations by telling me about Penny’s warm, sweet, loving devotion. She’d go on and on about Penny’s beauty and cuteness, how smart she is. “And when I say ‘sit’ she obeys immediately!” Aloise beams. And “Penny gives me a feeling of peacefulness; a sense that everything is going to be all right.”

And then a few weeks went by and I didn’t hear anything. I thought it best to just wait and allow the story to unfold.

Then I heard from Aloise. As I opened her e-mail I was readying myself to continue working to place Penny. Happily, I read this: “Dear Sharon, Last night I said to Penny, “Penny, you’re stuck with me!”

Aren’t these the sweetest words a rescuer can hear?.

Send in a photo and prayer for your pet!
 
Sharon Azar is an assistant to the editorial staff at GUIDEPOSTS. In her spare time, she rescues dogs and does portraits of furry, feathered and scaled companion animals. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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