Tom Eckert, Sanctuary One volunteer, board member, and adopter recently shared a story with us that deserves to be heard.
I like to think of Sanctuary One as a place for second chances in life. Second chances for abused or neglected animals. Second chances for people hurting from the downturns of everyday life. Second chances for building a new community of trust and friendship. Here is one story.
My wife and I lost our 14 year old best friend Teddy, a beautiful white Samoyed dog in March of 2021. He had health issues the last years of his life but in the Spring of 2021 he declined rapidly and passed on some weeks later. We were heartbroken by his loss having raised him from puppyhood. I wasn’t sure we would ever heal.
In the Fall of 2022, we happened to take a tour of the farm at Sanctuary One. We were so impressed that having newly retired we decided to volunteer. It was a wonderful fit and soon we were making new friends with other volunteers and staff and doing what felt like important work to us.
About three months later, a new dog arrived at the dog cottage. She was a white Great Pyrenees named Pearl. According to the story, Pearl had been found wandering the streets of Fresno, California and was picked up by animal control. She was on the kill list at that facility and was rescued and taken to an animal rescue farm in Yreka. One of the employees at Sanctuary One brought her from Yreka to Sanctuary One.
When we first saw Pearl, she was so mistrusting of people that we couldn’t get near her. I remember my wife sitting in her pen and Pearl would almost come to her and then back away at the last minute. She wouldn’t get anywhere near me
One day Pearl was moved into the pen next to another large dog that I frequently walked and played with. He was a very outgoing young male of mixed breed named Finnegan. I was talking to Finnegan through the fence and he jumped up to greet me as he often did. Pearl watched and for the first time she also jumped up on the fence and let me pet her.
Before long she was in my lap and stole my heart. That was almost three years ago and she’s been a member of our household ever since. I can’t put into words the healing she has done for us both. We still honor Teddy’s memory but the painful stabs of loss are much reduced. It was a second chance for us all.
