Two weeks ago I told you about Max, the 10-year-old Shitzu. His human brought him to the shelter because he was ill and could no longer care for Max. Max lived in our office for almost two weeks, which allowed all of us at Animal Care and Control to fall helplessly in love with him.
We quickly discovered that Max loved to be held like a baby. He would gaze up at whoever was holding him with his eyes practically rolling back in his little head. I sent out a plea in this column and online for Max and was overwhelmed with the community’s response. Everyone wanted Max.
The winner is a delightful senior citizen who told me that she thought she and Max would be just right for each other. She and her daughter came to meet Max and I saw quite clearly that she was indeed correct. Even still it was hard to let him go — until I watched him trot out to her car, tail wagging as he hopped up in the passenger seat. He stood on the arm rest so he could see out the window as they drove away, tail still wagging. I stood at the window out of sight watching his new person talking to him, smiling and petting him. I stopped worrying.
It helped that she called me a few hours later to let me know that Max was doing well. And the next day — and then she brought him to see us the day after that. And he came visited again on Tuesday. They were going to the bank.
Max has settled in quite nicely so I called his original owner to let him know Max is safe. He was very happy to hear the news. He told me that he has since been diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy on Monday. He doesn’t know what his future holds — or if he can ever have Max again. But he said it helped him to know that Max is safe and loved.
I’m not denying that Max is a special little guy or that he and his owner didn’t both reach in and squeeze my heart, but every animal who comes to Animal Care and Control has a story. Every animal who comes to us is urgent and needs either a foster home or a permanent home as possible. So please, if you considered helping Max, don’t let that compassion go to waste — help another animal at Animal Care and Control.
We want them all as well cared for as Max. We can’t do that without you. We have lots of wonderful animals right now, and they all wish they were Max.
Maleah Stringer, program director of Anderson Animal Care and Control, is also president of the Animal Protection League. She can be reached at maleahstringer@aol.com.
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John P. Cleary
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