Sanford was once a “broken dog” – at least until his luck changed and he then became a dog who couldn’t stop smiling.
Karen Velazquez, Sanford’s foster mom, claimed he was the happiest dog she’s ever met.
“I am presently on my 52nd foster, and I can genuinely say that I’ve never had anyone as jovial as him,” Velazquez said to The Dodo. “He looks at me in a way that no other animal or human has ever looked at me, including my own pets. Essentially, the only time he is not smiling is when he is asleep or eating.”
But before she took him in, Sanford needed lots of help. When he was rescued, he’d just been hit by a car and was unable to walk. Adding to his suffering, his rescuers had found a bullet wound in his back right leg.
After he was found by animal control officers, Sanford was taken to a small municipal shelter in Dallas, Texas, where he stayed a week. Since the shelter was short on resources, Sanford wasn’t able to get the medical attention he needed.
After a volunteer from a local dog rescue, Dallas DogRRR, first saw Sanford at the shelter, she knew she had to help the poor dog.
Kerry Anechiarico, executive director of Dallas DogRRR, explained to The Dodo, “He was physically broken … and when the volunteer went to see him, he didn’t really make any effort to come and say hello. It’s almost like he had given up, and he was just waiting for his time to come.”
But the biggest change occurred when Sanford went into foster care with Velazquez.
“He came to my home on May 1, just a few days after he was released from the hospital,” Velazquez said. “He has been all smiles ever since. I think the minute he came to my home, he realized he was in a safe place.”
Sanford, or “Sanfee” as Velasquez nicknamed him, adjusted to spending his days eating home-cooked meals, going for daily walks, and playing with Velazquez and her other dogs.
At 10 years old, Sanford is considered a senior – but Sanford found a new lease on life..
“He’s pretty much a normal dog for a senior of 10 years,” Anechiarico said. “He’s like the older gentleman that you see in a nursing home. He may be 95 years old, but he acts like he’s in his 50s.”
While Sanford was making strides, everyone really wanted to see him go a forever home.
“He’ll be a great family dog,” Anechiarico said. “He’ll get along with other dogs and all humans. He even does well with kids.”
“He’s the perfect companion dog that you can come home to,” Anechiarico added. “He’ll wag his tail and greet you, and he’ll just keep you company for the rest of the day. He’s just a happy-go-lucky dog now.”
For more information contact Dallas DogRRR.
