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| Acee and Reesee need a home. |
I recently received this e-mail from a contact at Eleventh Hour Rescue. While the shelter receives many pleas for dogs in need, this particular story touched the heart of Eleventh Hour's President and Founder Linda Schiller, who has had subsequent conversations with the owner since. Here's the story based on an e-mail Eleventh Hour received on April 7:
"My name is Heather, and I'm trying to help a dying man place his two beloved dogs.
The man's name is Mr. Fuller. He really doesn't have long, maybe a week or two at most, though he believes it's more like a couple of days.
He has cancer, and he says the only thing that keeps him hanging on is that he wants to find a place for his two dogs.
He loves those dogs so much.
My heart just breaks for him, and just thinking of those dogs going to a shelter when they've been so loved is just awful.
I can't let that happen to them.
If you can help or know of someone who can, please contact me immediately. I'm in Pennsylvania, but Mr. Fuller is out of state.
After talking to you, I'll give you his contact information. I also have contact information for a friend of his in case something has happened to him.
Here is a bit about the dogs. I've also attached pictures of them.
Reesee is a 3 1/2-year-old female. Mr. Fuller got her from a shelter when she was very young.
She is a mother-type and feels the need to take care of kittens and puppies. She loves kids and all people. Mr. Fuller said she'd be your friend even if you pointed a gun at her. She just loves everyone. She is house trained, current on vaccinations, and spayed.
She is kid, dog, and cat friendly. If a cat runs, she will chase it, but she won't hurt it.
Acee (as in AC) is about 1 1/2 years old. Reesee found her one day and started caring for her. She was about 6 weeks old.
Mr. Fuller asked around the neighborhood and found out she'd been abandoned by a family that moved. He took her in.
She had Parvo and had to be treated. Obviously, she survived. I was told that she has never known anything but love and kindness, and it shows in her personality.
She is great with kids, other dogs, and cats. She, too, will chase a cat if it runs.
She's house trained, current on vaccinations, and spayed.
These dogs are bonded and MUST stay together. They love each other too much to be separated.
Since they are already losing their owner, it seems unfair that they might have to lose each other, too. So again, they must stay together.
Both are very gentle, well behaved, sweet dogs. They are very content just to have contact with their person. They are both used to medical devices and wheelchairs. Mr. Fuller suggested that they would make excellent therapy dogs.
Both are very easy to handle. They love baths and will jump right into the tub.
Mr. Fuller promises that they are the best socialized dogs you could ever meet and that, after just a week of kindness and treats, they will happily bond with a new person.
Anyone who might be able to take these dogs in should contact me ASAP.
I'm acting as the go-between for Mr. Stuart Fuller.
Time is of the essence.
Heather"
Upon receiving the above plea, Linda Schiller contacted the owner directly and reassured him that we will take good care of his two dogs and find them the perfect home. Here are her comments from those conversations:
"All my faith is wrapped up in you". These were the words of a dying me to me. I don't know what I was expecting during that first phone call. I guess I was prepared to talk to someone was weak or scared or needy. Instead I was talking to a strong, self assured and independent gentleman who shared stories of his incredible life and his deep love for his dogs with me. During our conversations I found out he had built and flown planes....that he have lived on a ranch and an airport....he had sky dived...he had traveled extensively...he was 6 foot tall and was a football player in school...he had a daughter that was a great lady and a beautiful granddaughter too... and his two dogs were family and meant the world to him . He told me little stories about his dogs and what they liked and how you needed to get on your knees at night and whisper in their ears "I love you Resee...I love you Acee" over and over again. We talked for hours and only once during that initial conversation did he cry. He broke down when he told me that he had promised Resee and Acee that he would always love them and take care of them and nothing bad would ever happen to them and he tearfully told me that he was afraid he was breaking his promise to them. He told me that he had saved Resee from a shelter but she had saved him from despair....and then they both, he and Resee, had saved Acee and how they were a happy family of three. He seemed embarrassed and apologized for crying.
This man and his great compassion had so moved me that now it was my turn to apologize for crying and I swore to him at that moment that we at Eleventh Hour would keep his promise for him.
So it was decided that we would take these two wonderful companions. During the next few days Mr. Fuller and I spoke every day at length about the dogs...about him...about his life,,,about who he was and who he had become. Something happened during those chats...we became friends. I remember telling him the one day that I had something to tell him that I felt guilty about ...I was feeling sorry for myself because I did not had the opportunity to know him better during his lifetime. He laughed and told me that he was just thankful that he had gotten to know me now and that he was so relieved and happy that we were going to help his dogs find a family to love them the way he had.
Resee and Acee are coming to us today. I am proud of us for honoring a dying man's wish but my heart is breaking for one of the strongest people I have ever met. Mr. Fuller is someone who loves and cares so deeply, so unselfishly, that he has made the decision to face the end alone without the comfort of his two best friends for their sake. What a privilege to get to know this gentleman. Thank you Stuart for entrusting us with the care of your 4 legged kids. We will find them a family to keep them safe and loved until it is their time to come and meet you at the Rainbow Bridge. God bless you and keep you. -- Linda Schiller"
Reese and Acee are available for adoption from Eleventh Hour Rescue. If you are interested in adopting, visit www.ehrdogs.org and fill out an application for these two beautiful girls.
