July 2017

Rosie 011417a

You would think that anyone who saw this face would fall instantly in love with Rosie, but there was a time when she was treated with very little love.

Rosie came to us from the Manchester Animal Control. She had been brought to Bolton Vet neglected and malnourished. She weighed only 17 pounds and was unresponsive. They worked hard to keep her alive, though it was not always assured that they would succeed. But she made it through and, once she was stable, needed a place to complete her recovery. So, she came to the Our Companions Sanctuary, where we could slowly help her build back her weight and her strength, and assess any behavioral problems her ordeal may have caused.

It’s a testament to a dog’s resilience and capacity for love, however, that Rosie’s emotional scars were few. She was a resource guarder, and couldn’t live with another dog or cat, but with people, she was nothing but affectionate. She loved attention, love to hug and kiss, and made quick friends with everyone. And she surprised us all by being one of the few dogs we’ve had here who was happy and well mannered with all ages of children.

As Rosie’s body recovered and grew up to an appropriate 45 pounds, we nurtured her mind and spirit as well. She went to training classes and out on field trips to local state parks. And she worked with at-risk youth as part of our Buddy Project. She became a volunteer favorite, at least when she wasn’t untying your shoelaces or trying to sneak a treat from you.

And, as often happens here, it was just a matter of time before the perfect family for Rosie walked through our doors. They had no other pets, which worked great for Rosie. However, they did have two toddlers, which would have usually meant that we would not have a dog for them. But Rosie’s love of little kids made her a perfect match for them.

Rosie now lives in a loving home with a family who will make sure she never knows the kind of hardship she previously experienced again. And in return, she’ll give them no end of fun, laughter, and adorable, soft-eyed head tilts.

Congratulations, Rosie!

Rosie 050517b

Here’s our latest update on the construction here at the Sanctuary. The new buildings are really coming together now!

We’ll start with an updated wide view of the Sanctuary: 070417a

Check out this gorgeous cat building. The catios are really taking shape! The doors have all been installed and include kitty doors for access to the outside playscapes. Inside, you can really start to see how the place will be set up. Most of the infrastructure is in place and we’ll have walls up in no time.

And, of course, there’s also the two new dog cottages. They are also moving right along. We can already see some pups snuggling on couches and barking for their dinners.