Val, what a sorry state we found him in! We weren’t necessarily looking for another dog, but my husband and I were at a vet’s office looking at one who, we were told, was Brandy’s biological brother. Without going into the details, we all recognized, including Brandy, that this would not be a match made in Heaven. There was another dog at the clinic that I noticed because he was so emaciated and his eyes were so full of loneliness and sadness. I was told FPALR was trying to find a home for him but we went home, not giving it another thought…..or so I thought. My eye contact with Val haunted me, I ultimately relented and told my husband that if he wanted a 2nd dog, the sickly yellow lab we saw from the other day would be it.
We didn’t know anything about Val’s history at the time but when Val walked through the door, further explanation was warranted ASAP! His belly was full of surgical staples, he smelled, his leg had a big protruding bulge of bone on it and he was covered in some form of skin rash. I was not thinking of giving him back since I felt even sorrier for him now but I definitely was thinking “what did we get ourselves into with this one?” AND “ka-ching, ka-ching on vet bills!”
Ileana brought over Val’s papers. A Katrina Dog.
We heard of all the abandoned pets and saw the pictures of the lost souls wandering New Orleans, standing on roof tops, etc. and felt awful. It turned out that FPALR brought up 30 dogs to place (they did) and Val was part of the group. We know nothing of his background but can only assume that he had a family since he clearly was trained, obedient, walked easily on a leash and adores being around little children. As for his name? Don’t really know but he was called “Valenti” and the school of thought is that the ASPCA veterinarians in New Orleans oversaw the care of groups of animals and they were identified by the name charge or some variation of that theme. By the time we adopted him, he reasonably enough responded to his new name and we didn’t have the heart to change it again. He was 40 pounds upon arrival to our home; he truly must have been at death’s door when he was picked up in New Orleans. I wonder every day why he was chosen to survive and what his story was. How I wish he could talk.
Needless to say, we nursed him back to health. He weighs in at 72 pounds and shows very little signs of his traumatic past. He remains petrified of heavy rains and storms and can detect thunder and lightening at a distance. He shakes so much and it is so pitiful. Many dogs, however, fear storms so I’ll never really know to what extent Katrina played in this. Surprisingly, Val loves to swim. We thought, for sure, he would stay away from water.
Fortunate pooch, indeed! One look into Val’s eyes and I know each and every moment how grateful he is for his new family.
Animal relief efforts are underway in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12. Food, water and first aid are desperately needed to help the animals that survived and vaccinations are needed to help curb the onset of disease. Haiti will not be able to rebuild and renew if its’ animals, including their livestock, die off! BRANDY AND VAL will donate $5 to Best Friend’s Haiti Animal Rescue, a member of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) from EVERY Brandy and Val book and toy purchase now through 2/28/10. We are especially fond and thankful to Best Friends since they were so instrumental in coordinating relief, pet relocation and reunification efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (Val is a Hurricane Katrina survivor!).
