General Discussion

Omaha Steve

(99,624 posts) Mon Sep 8, 2014, 09:03 PM Sep 2014

Woman’s Dying Wish to Hold the Dog She Saved from Puerto Rico

http://www.care2.com/causes/womans-dying-wish-to-hold-the-dog-she-saved-from-puerto-rico.html

by Laura Simpson September 21, 2011 11:00 pm

By Twig Mowatt of All Sato Rescue

One of the women in the All Sato Rescue network received a call about a dog that was in very bad shape and had been abandoned in a very upscale part of San Juan. Unbelievably, the affluent residents of this community weren’t doing anything to help the dog. He appeared to be a Shar Pei mix, but had terrible mange, was emaciated and had all sorts of parasites and worms.

He was a sweetheart though right from the start; he had a noble air about him and was given the name Bucare. Edilia Vazquez, our Founder, took him in and had him for quite awhile and was trying to pack some meat on his bones.

Last winter, we got the idea to do a Valentine special, where people could visit our website to view a long list of dogs that needed sponsorship, and they could make a donation on behalf of their sweetheart. We had huge success with this because there were lots of traditionally cute dogs. But, Bucare didn’t get a single person to sponsor him….that is, until my dog-loving friend Lynn stepped in. I had met Lynn through her work to help ban greyhound racing in Massachusetts. In the process of falling in with the movement, she and her husband had adopted four of their own retired racers. She had a heart of gold and would never rest if she knew an animal out there needed something. When I told her about the Valentine project, she asked me to sign her up for whichever dog had not had any takers….that’s how she ended up with Bucare.

She Started Sending Money for Her Valentine Dog

Lynn started out sending money toward his skin baths and overall treatment and the longer his recovery went on, the more she wanted to know about him and the more she fell for him. Eventually, he was ready to make the flight up to New England and find his forever home. Well, of course, the plane flight is very expensive — so Lynn stepped in yet again, writing out a check for his ticket. We sent him to our partner, Puppy Angels in New Hampshire. They have found homes for many of our larger dogs and they work with a couple who foster some of the ones that need a bit more TLC. They took in Bucare and they too fell in love with him and almost kept him. At the same time, Lynn, who was battling brain cancer at the time, was trying to get to New Hampshire to meet him. But, every time she tried to go, some health issue would come up.

FULL story at link.

Her Legacy Lives On

Today Lynn’s legacy of compassion lives on not only in Bucare, but in the many others she rescued as well. She was a champion for greyhounds and for the dogs of Puerto Rico. If you would like to follow in Lynn’s very grand footsteps and help provide food, shelter and veterinary care for the dogs we rescue, please consider making a donation here today. I can’t help thinking how honored Lynn would be to play a continued role in saving the lives she so valiantly fought for. To see a photo of what Bucare looked like when he first arrived, click here. (Broken link)