Ben Madilynn
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – During the 10th annual Clear the Shelters campaign, Kim Saffo reached out to share her family’s story of adopting a pet from an animal shelter.
Saffo and her daughter Chole recently lost Peter, husband and father, and Beanie, the shelter dog he adopted. They wanted to find another dog so they went to the Pender County Animal Shelter and found Rosie.
They felt an instant connection. “I just saw her, and she was like one of the only dogs that was like, more calm. And I just like fell in love as soon as I saw her,” said Chloe.
That’s exactly what shelter workers hope to hear. It really is a life-changing decision for an animal.
“This is their lifeline this is their last stop and so it’s really important to adopt from a shelter you know, these animals didn’t ask me to put them in this situation and they’re great animals a lot of good household pets are here now, ” said Jewel Horton, Director Pender County Animal Shelter.
The Saffos aren’t strangers to shelter pets; they have another dog and two cats in the house.
They wanted to make sure Rosie would be a good fit. So they took their other dog to the shelter.
“We took her outside and like a play area. And we she kept Scout, and I kept her, and then we kind of just slowly introduced them,” said Chloe.
“The Pender County people, they put Rosie with a couple of their cats that they have, and she was fine. We brought her home, and it’s like they’ve lived together forever,” said Kim.
When they brought Rosie home, the Saffos felt an even stronger bond with her new four-legged friend.
“She like, got attached to me, like the first day we brought her home,” said Chole.
“They say that shelter animals are the most loving because they are so thankful to have a home, and this one has lived right up to that,” said Kim.
The Saffos also adopted Rosie even though she tested positive for heartworms. They are willing to do whatever it takes. The good news is Rosie has a lower level which is treatable by taking preventative heartworm pills.
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