News
A Very Merry Christmas for Theresa, the Mother of Many
December 26, 2008, 5:54PM MT
By Patty Meehan
The dog who helped three litters of pups and a kitten gets a home of her own!
The dog who helped three litters of pups and a kitten gets a home of her own!
By Patty Meehan, BFAS Network Volunteer, Louisiana
The story began with a plea for help for a small black lab mix girl, in a shelter in Jefferson Parish. This little girl has a very special story. Theresa had come into the shelter with a litter of her own in September, after hurricane Gustav had hit New Orleans. Happily, her pups were all adopted, so when another litter came into the shelter, motherless, Theresa stepped right up and nursed them as well. Once this litter was weaned, Theresa took on yet another litter of five, two-day old puppies that were abandoned by their mother, as well as a three day old kitten! Talk about motherly love!
All the puppies and the kitten found forever homes, thanks to Theresa, who fed, groomed, and cared for them. It was time for Theresa to find a home of her very own. But sadly, no one came to adopt her. She wondered, ‘Where is a family for me?’ This wonderful dog who has never met a stranger, loves other dogs, and really loves kids (of all species, apparently!) kept her paws crossed, hoping. She was up to date on all vaccines, heartworm-free, and microchipped. Her bags were packed and she was all ready to go. But still, no adoption happened for Theresa.
As with most shelters across the south, space is limited, and time was quickly running out for little Theresa. That’s when Jacob Stroman, Animal Care Specialist for the Jefferson Parish West Bank Animal Shelter, contacted Melanie Manning, a rescue volunteer for the shelter. Knowing that the folks in rescue could help this special dog, Jacob reached out for their help to find her a home of her very own.
Manning put out the call for help for this loving and gentle dog who had helped so many, and now needed help herself. The call was answered by Rocky Gates, Director of Chihuahua and Pound Puppy Rescue of Louisiana.
Gates spread the word to rescues and animal welfare folks throughout Louisiana and beyond, and the plea for a home for this sweet, giving little girl went out far and wide (see the story on the Louisiana Community). Gates committed to getting Theresa out of the shelter and finding her a home.
Donations came in for Theresa, to cover her travel expenses, so that she could get to her new home when the right adopter was found. An adopter was found and approved, and arrangements were made to fly Theresa home, with Stroman offering her a ride to the airport, making sure she made her flight safely. Sadly, the adoption fell through, and once again, Theresa was waiting for her forever family to find her, and in possible danger of not getting out of the shelter in time.
But the commitment of Stroman, Manning, and Gates was unwavering, and their dream for Theresa was that she be in her own home for Christmas. So once again the networking began, to find the perfect family for this little girl who had given so much of herself to help other dogs, and who had touched so many hearts.
With the help of Linda Migues, who has a special place in her heart (and her home!) for rescued dogs and cats, Theresa was ‘sprung’ from the shelter. Migues provided Theresa a place to stay and lots of love and attention, while this little dog was waiting for her new life to begin.
Her story was again networked across the country, and was even published in the New Orleans Times Picayune. Emails and calls began to come in, and Gates carefully screened each adoption applicant, to find the very best match for Theresa and for the family interested in adopting.
Then a Christmas wish came true. A family in Marrero, Louisiana, who had read about Theresa, contacted Gates. Hurricane Rita had destroyed their house and they had recently settled into their new home. Their son, Brandon, who has autism, simply loves animals and has a special connection with them. Gates stated, “Out of all the applications I received for Theresa, the one that touched me the most was the home with an autistic child. He really, really responds to animals and the family wanted him to have a dog of his own to care for. They have a family dog that is very attached to the dad and the son plays with him...but it is not his ‘own’ dog. Theresa would be as good for him as he would be for her.”
So on December 24th, Christmas Eve, thanks to Migues and Traci Musso, who split the 100+ mile trip to get Theresa to her new home, little Theresa and the Bourgeois family received the Christmas gift they’d been wishing for…… each other.
(Theresa and her new canine brother, getting to know each other)
The Bourgeois family couldn’t be happier. Theresa immediately settled into her new home, like she’d been there forever. “From the moment she walked in, it was home.” said Mrs. Bourgeois. “She has slept with Brandon every night. She’s so well-behaved. She is totally wonderful.” Theresa thinks they are pretty wonderful, too.
(The newest member of the family, making herself at home)
So the happy ending to this story is the beginning of another, the story of Theresa’s life with her new family and her boy, Brandon. A little black dog, homeless in the local animal shelter, who mothered several litters, reminds us once again about the gems that are in shelters across the country, just waiting to fill someone’s home with happiness and joy.
The power of networking and working together to help our companions here on this planet is an amazing thing. Time and time again, we see how we continue to move closer to a world of no more homeless pets, through working together for the animals.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Theresa’s Christmas miracle came to pass and she now has a loving family. However, there are still many other homeless pets who are still in need. Search through Petfinder to find a shelter or rescue near you.
• Support rescue organizations like Chihuahua and Pound Puppy Rescue of Louisiana, so that they may continue to help save lives.
• Want to help directly? You can find fostering and volunteering opportunities with animal organizations through Volunteer Match.
For more information:
• Theresa, A Mother to Many, Needs Our Help
photos of Theresa by Jacob Stroman
photos of new family by Traci Musso