Emails like the one below from Rachel Carlson, makes the time we put into arranging the transports, the expense and the grueling 18 hour drive each way all worthwhile!
Subject: Thank you Southern Hope Humane Society!
Dear Southern Hope:
I just wanted to write to tell you how grateful I am for your efforts to transport animals up from your shelter in Georgia to the Plainville, Connecticut adoption event. I'm from Connecticut and in the months leading up to the event I had contacted at least 20 shelters and adoption organizations, and drove countless hours all over New England looking for an available dog to adopt. I'm 22 years old, and my parents had decided that after a lifetime of small-pet ownership and a college degree, I was finally mature enough to get a dog. Some shelters only had dogs they wanted to adopt out to families with small children, some people from extremely picky organizations doubted my ability to care for a dog, and most just didn't have anything available other than abused pit bulls and rotweilers confiscated from drug dealers. The coup de grâce of my endeavor was when I made a six hour round trip to Gloucester, Massachusetts to pick up a dog I had fallen in love with on Petfinder. Unfortunately, the shelter had a no-hold policy, and the dog was adopted a mere half hour before I arrived at the shelter. I was heartbroken, but I figured I'd try one last time.
When I showed up to the Petsmart Spring Puppy Fling at 10:00am on Friday morning, I thought for sure I'd be one of the first, but of course, the parking lot was already packed with people waiting in line. I almost gave up hope of ever adopting a dog right then and there, but after a brief emotional meltdown, I decided to stay and tough it out. My (incredibly tolerant) grandmother and I waited in line for almost five hours just to get into the tent. I had compiled a list of a dozen dogs from the Petfinder profiles online that I was interested in, and was honestly shocked to find that most of them were still available. (Speaking of which, the online profiles were very helpful. I was able to get an idea of which dogs were available beforehand, so it wasn't quite so overwhelming once I actually got into the tent). One of the dogs that was last on my list, added almost as an afterthought, turned out to be The One.
Gage, now Ollie, is the absolute perfect dog for me. My parents HATED dogs before I adopted Ollie and now I come home to find the house empty because my mother is out walking him. They play with him and love him, and he's completely changed their opinions on how a dog can be. He's quiet, affectionate, sweet, and just an incredible animal to have around. Everyone who meets him loves him and he's my little traveling buddy whenever I run errands or visit friends. He had a nasty kennel cough when we brought him home and was extremely thin, but the cough is almost completely gone now and he's putting on weight like a champ. The photo attached was taken right after I brought him home, and he's looking much healthier these days. It's only been a few weeks but he's become a huge part of our family. All of the time, struggle, and expense has been completely worth it, and I have your organization to thank for it. I never would have found him without you. Thanks again for all the hard work you do, it's much appreciated here up north...
Sincerely,
Suzanne Carlson