In January of 2016, a neighbor asked me to help her find a home for a “special needs dog.” The dog’s name was Lucy.
She lived in an apartment with a couple who had several other dogs and a couple of cats. They had rescued Lucy from life on a chain as a puppy, but they said she had always remained timid with people and terrified of the world. They were moving and wanted to find somewhere else for her to live.
Her eyes had the dull and unhappy look you see on the left. That’s the first photo I ever took of her.
I was told that adopting Lucy would be like taking on a special-needs child. I was told not to expect her to ever change.
Today, I call her the World’s Happiest Dog®. She loves everybody. She’s always happy. And I think it’s because she feels loved and secure.
Today is National Dog Day and I think it’s a good time to remember how much difference we can make in the lives of these special animals — and how much difference their love can make for us.
We’re neither friends nor enemies, just strangers who share the past
‘This path leads to somewhere I think I can finally say, I’m home’
When love finally dies, it’s like a fever breaks and the pain is gone
On National Dog Day, remember how love can change any of us
How miserable does someone have to be to ‘troll’ a cute dog picture?
Three years after she sneaked in, World’s Happiest Dog® is queen
Goodbye, Anne (2009-2019)
We’re more like other animals than we like to admit to anyone