Angel
Send Me an Angel
In honor of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, we’re taking a virtual road trip to another shelter—Animal Allies in Minnesota—for a Happy Tail by Jan Nash that highlights just how wonderful shelter dogs can be!
I have MS and live alone in a high-rise building on Lake Superior with other seniors and/or disabled tenants. In May 2010, I adopted a two-year-old Poodle/Terrier mix from my local shelter, Animal Allies. I named her Angel. She had been abused, and was very skinny and fearful—but within weeks, with lots of love, patience, and socializing with my neighbors and their pets, Angel became a totally different dog. She is now the happiest and most popular dog in the building!
I want to share a small miracle. At 1:30 A.M. on September 21, 2011, Angel woke me up, acting whiny and anxious. Angel uses a puppy pad at night, but because of her behavior, I decided to take her outside. She was pulling, so I figured she really had to go. But to my surprise, she ran into the parking lot and led me between two vehicles. There lay one of my neighbors, on the ground in the fetal position, his walker nearby.
The man wasn’t fully conscious. He had on shorts and a light jacket although it was 38 degrees! He couldn't move, and said he recently had surgery on both knees and was in a lot of pain. I called 911, got my knees under his head to get it off the ground and tried to cover him with my body to keep him warm. We stayed like that, with Angel right by him, until the police and ambulance arrived.
Later, I realized Angel never went potty outside, and had urinated on her puppy pad before we went out! Somehow, Angel knew this man was in trouble—he turned out to have had a heart attack—and was determined to get me up and outside. The police and paramedics all said she certainly deserved a treat, and she got her favorite Pup-Peroni and lots of hugs, kisses and praise from me!
I’ve always felt that shelter animals are special animals, and I’m blessed to have found my Angel. She is perfect for me, and we take care of each other.