Red Deer & District SPCA

Guardian Angel update
Friday March 27, 2009

The Story of Danny

A letter from an adoptive pet parent

Hello there,

I want to say thank you to the Red Deer SPCA for all of the work you do in helping misplaced pets and finding them new and forever homes.

17 years ago, I walked into the SPCA with my parents and brother and we came looking for a new addition to our family. We never expected to find this cute puppy who was 6 months old and we thought to be a greyhound and shepherd cross. We took him for a walk and all my father complained about was how excited the dog was and how much energy he had being outside. The puppy had already been at the SPCA for 2 weeks by this time and after going home and begging, we brought him home the very same day.

We named him Danny and he became my brother's and my best friend. We discovered during his first little bit with us that he must have been abused in his previous home as he was completely petrified of my father and would cry every time he came near him. Danny would get scared whenever we tried to put him on a leash to take him for a walk. After lots of work and kindness from us, he became the best dog a family could ever want. He was great with and my brother and me, and he even looked out for us when we were walking him alone or playing in the backyard.

Unfortunately, last summer, at the lovely old age of 16 years old, we had to make the decision to euthanize Danny. He had bad arthritis in his hips and his kidneys were failing. It was the hardest thing my family ever had to do, but I am thankful that I got to stand in the room and hold his head and my mom's hand as we watched him peacefully pass. We still keep his ashes in a little box with his picture on it so that we can remember him. I miss him more then the world over.

This past October, I made the decision that I was ready to add a new addition to my little family of myself and my cat, May and we got a beautiful 10 week old lab/border collie cross named Zoe. She came from a rescue society here in Edmonton and I could not be happier. I only hope that she will grow up to be half as amazing as our dog, Danny was and I know she will have huge amounts of love from me and will be spoiled rotten.

I just want to say thank you to everyone that works and volunteers at the Red Deer SPCA. You guys are making a huge difference and if it wasn't for you, my family never would have found Danny and enjoyed a long life with him like we did. Thank you so much.

April