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Adoption Story Worth Knowing

By Charelle Burgess

A Furry Tail: Happily Ever After for Leo.


    Once upon a bark in a quiet little shelter there was a dog named Leo.  He was a red-colored pooch with wise eyes, a wagging tail full of dreams, and a heart as big as the moon. But Leo didn’t live in a cozy home yet. No, he lived in a shelter for nearly two years until his brave knight came along.
    Leo, now known as Simba because of his lion-like roar, actually met his knight once before in the prison dog training program. The two worked together on various tricks and commands and something sparked in Simba. His quick ability to master new tricks and his loyalty to his training partner soon made him a star at the facility. "He gave me a sense of being, he really made my time bearable," said his human. Sadly, it was back to the shelter and time to separate these two loyal companions.
    For over a year, other pups came and went, Leo always stayed behind.  The shelter staff and volunteers knew Leo had something special: a smart and athletic dog that needed just the right person.
    Then one glorious afternoon, that brave knight named Justin walked through the shelter doors. He wasn’t looking for perfect. He was looking for his Prince Charming of a partner that he had come to know at the training program so many months before. Something magical happened! Simba, the dog once known as Leo, looked straight into Justin’s heart and the two knew they were meant to be together forever.
    And so began Simba's greatest adventure. He went to a loving home for a lifetime of long walks through enchanted forests (or what humans called "parks"), and bowls that never ran empty. Simba's best trick - he can pray for his food and say "Grace".   And from this day on, Simba never sat waiting to go home ever again. Instead, he is a snuggle buddy and can sense Justin's energy and just what is needed at the moment. Plus, days of boat rides and nights in a real bed. This furry tail has found its happy ending and they both lived paw-sitively ever after!
    The end.
    Moral of the story: Dogs can save people with their unconditional love. Woof!
    Want to meet your Prince Charming or kind-hearted Queen at the shelter? Come find your happily ever after! Check out the volunteer Instagram page @Humane_HappeningsLC to see pictures and videos of adoptable pups. Stop by the shelter located at 16435 McKinley Road, Umatilla or fill out an adoption application online at HumaneLake.com. Visiting hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and they can be reached by phone at 352-589-7400.