The Power of a Steady Sidekick
When Alex first arrived at the shelter, his skin was raw and scaly from years of unmanaged allergic reactions. With overgrown nails that clicked as he walked, a coat patchy and slicked to his sides with grease, and bones visibly on display, many of us thought he looked more like a chupacabra than a dog. He was unclean, malnourished, and above all unloved in the ways he should have been. But despite all those physical flaws, Alex was a good boy–his personality and perspective on life untainted despite all the hardship he had endured.
Alex was a case that united us all; from the vet clinic to the front desk, volunteers and admin alike were rooting for him. His medical needs were mysterious as he was not only emaciated, but also struggled to put on weight despite a healthy appetite. Alex was experiencing digestive problems, which likely stemmed from his severe allergies and incorrect nutrition. But to be sure there weren’t any underlying issues, our vet clinic elected to run an out-of-network blood panel to rule out the possibility of concerns like cancer. It was an expensive test, not usually something we can provide, but made possible for Alex by donations from our monthly giving program, Steady Sidekicks. It was a nerve-wracking week as we awaited the results, but when the tests came back negative, we knew we had to keep fighting for Alex. Fortunately, Alex never stopped fighting for himself. His tail wagged through medicated baths and veterinary exams alike.
As Alex was recovering, the front desk staff were his best friends. Each day, someone would sneak away to bring him out from his kennel and set up his dog bed behind the counter before opening hours. There, he was spoiled with dried fish treats, peanut butter, pets, and lots of squeaky toys, his favorite of which was a soggy ice cream cone-shaped stuffie. Through what must have been a stressful treatment period, Alex remained a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. Always excited for a walk, always so well behaved–it was hard not to love him. It brought us so much joy to see him steadily put on weight, his eyes becoming more animated with each passing day. We knew his quality of life depended on continued medical care and dietary restrictions that came with a hefty price tag. His new home would need to be abundant in resources as well as love, which is why it felt meant to be when Kendall Roberts and her family came through our doors.
From the moment they met, the connection between Alex and the Roberts family was undeniable. While they played together in Ellie's Garden, we talked about the specialized care Alex would require for the rest of his life, but the conversation never seemed to dampen their enthusiasm. The Roberts family’s last dog had faced similar medical challenges, and they were well equipped to take on the responsibility. Today, Alex has come out of retirement and is enjoying his second career as a senior ranch dog. For the staff who watched him transform into a thriving companion, there could be no greater reward. The Roberts family understood that bond, and when Alex celebrated his birthday, they brought him back to the shelter so his biggest fans could celebrate alongside him.
Alex's story is the kind of outcome every shelter hopes for, but it only happened because people were willing to invest in him. Being a Steady Sidekick means you can be a part of the next happy tail–the next Alex that will inevitably need a home. Your monthly donation will help us say yes to the animals whose greatest need isn't just shelter, but time, treatment, and care. This is what your support means to us. This is what your support means to them. Be a Steady Sidekick and become their champion!
