One cold winter evening Sarah, a 5-year-old lab-shepherd mix, was left tied to the doorknob of a local shelter. Officer Peter D’Amico was dispatched to pick her up. She wasn’t too pleased to see Officer Peter and transporting her to Westport Animal Control (WAC) was challenging but a challenge that Officer D’Amico has encountered many, many times during the course of his 20-year career. So, Sarah arrived at WAC scared, cold and sad.
Over the course of a few days and lots of TLC provided by the staff and volunteers, however, she started to reveal her true loving nature. She was named Sarah after the song “Sarah Smile” because she would greet those she had learned to trust with a big smile (and wiggle). She was content and happy with the people (staff and volunteers) in her world. In the course of a few weeks she probably received more love than she had BAC (Before Animal Control).
Unfortunately, Sarah did not show well to potential adopters. She would bark and show no interest in going to a new home. She was content at WAC hanging out in the office of her beloved Kathleen (animal control assistant). Then one day a young couple showed up. They had been waiting until they were in a suitable home and financial situation to bring a dog into their lives. Sarah showed a glimmer of interest. The walk around the “grounds” of WAC went well, and they spent quite some time with her. They could have filled out the paperwork right then and there and taken Sarah home that day. Truth be told, that is how it’s done at a lot of shelters but this is Westport Animal Control. Officer D’Amico wanted to make sure there was commitment on both sides – the potential new family AND Sarah. For three weeks the couple came back every day and took Sarah for walks, rubbed her belly and gave her at least an hour of quality time. Sarah blossomed even more with this extra attention. The day Sarah went home with her new mom and dad was a happy day for all. She readily jumped into her new car on her way to her new home.
A dog that came into WAC fearful and sad left a happy trusting dog. Officer D’Amico calls them weekly to check on how things are going and Sarah is doing very well in her new loving world.
