Sara,
a very large Neapolitan Mastiff, had a tough start in life.
She was chained and bred over and over again until she came into rescue.
Sara was loved by her foster Mom who was the first to
care for Sara, and then was adopted
into a new family. But that didn't work out, and her owners insisted
that a new home be located.
While Sara remained in
the adoptive family's
home BHR sent out urgent messages, but after several months,
no results. Then one day the universe came together!
The owners of Sara stated she would be euthanized if we did not find her a home
in two days, and on the same day
a wonderful woman named Jackie applied to adopt Sara.
The rest is history.
Here is Jackie's letter to Sara, who recently died of bone cancer.
My
dearest Sara,
The minute I saw your beautiful face I fell in love. When I read your story on how you were treated until you came under Big Heart Rescue’s care I cried. I knew you deserved a loving “forever” home and I could give you that and that’s when I went through the steps to adopt you. I could not get you fast enough. I thought of you day and night and couldn’t believe how much you consumed me. Finally, it was the morning for me to drive to the Coast to pick you up. I couldn’t sleep the night before and told my Great Dane, Gord, that I was going to pick up his new sister, someone more his size to play with as he was too big to play with the other two old girls I had.
Then you were in my arms. You were even more beautiful than I could have imagined. The first time you slobbered on my pants I laughed and could care less. My girl was coming home.
When we arrived home, you marched into the yard with no hesitation and greeted the other dogs with a happy wagging tail. Gord couldn’t be more excited to have someone else to play with and another girl to add to his harem. You spent the evening sniffing around all areas of the house along with the cats who weren’t that appreciative at the time. You were smiling and so was I; we were made for each other.
Two days later however our wonderful Gord passed away and you were there already to console me as he was a special love as well. But in my sadness my friends told me that you were meant for me at this time in my life to fill that other large void that was missing. I had to try to pull it together because here was a new addition to the family that needed attention as well as all the other happy critters that live here. I would just have to grieve to myself, but I had to carry on.
For the first few months Sara, I took you everywhere. I knew you would be so worried when I left but I loved having you for company. You were happy being with me all the time and when we would arrive back home you were even happier to see your other furry friends again. Finally, after a period of time, you didn’t care if I left because you always knew I would come back.
Then we had some more additions to the family when one fall night our friend Ken arrived with a mother and four puppies that had been thrown out on the highway. While Emma at first was very protective over her pups it didn’t take her long to realize that no one in this household wanted to hurt her or her babies so she settled in nicely. But Sara, because of your huge loving heart, the puppies were immediately drawn to you and you would lie there smiling as they would climb all over you liking your face. You instantly became Aunt Sara and Emma loved you as a close sister. I have so many pictures of you two lying by the wood stove together or outside on the grass together. But then you had your own special place in front of the window to get the morning sun. Whenever I would see you laying there I often laid down right next you and wrapped my arms around you and told you how much I loved you and thanked you for coming in my life.
I have to be honest Sara, it has been very, very hard since you have gone. I look at those favorite spots of yours and my heart aches. Emma is still searching for you and I have to lie with her a lot by the fireplace now as I know she misses you so much as well. But the hardest part for me is the mornings. I never needed an alarm clock. Every morning around 7:30, I would be awakened with this thumping sound and that was your nubby tail wagging against the side of the couch. I would then say, “Good morning Sara!” and you would give a happy growly sort of noise and roll around a bit. Then you would jump off of the couch, go and look for your stuffed bear and bring it over to my face in bed. I often said to people that wouldn’t it be nice if we could all wake up as happy as you did but then I realized how lucky I was because I DID wake up that happy because YOU made me smile every day. This will now take me sometime to stop tearing up in the morning because I wake up and you’re not there. I miss seeing your beautiful face in the mornings and that will take me a long time to get used to.
Sara, I only had you for a year but I couldn’t have possibly loved you any more. You were a joy and a delight and EVERYONE loved you. I’ll miss the times we went to the Farmer’s Market together and everyone there got to know you and would call out your name when you arrived and you would just smile the way that dogs do.
I miss you and so do your other furry brothers and sisters but we won’t ever forget you. At least there is no more pain for you because I never, ever wanted you to feel pain again. We know that there will be other additions to the family in time because there are so many others out there that need to feel love as well, but with all of my loving creatures nobody ever is replaced as that would be impossible. Each animal has a piece of my heart but Sara you took up quite a few pieces. The house is very quiet right now as you were so loud at everything you did. You walked loud, your playful growls were loud, you barked loud, you drank loud, you ate loud but I loved it every single time. Your picture is on my desktop on my computer because no one had a face like yours and I miss grabbing your wrinkles and then kissing your face.
But through all this sadness, which will slow in time, you were worth every single tear. I’ve never for one moment regretted bringing you in my life and I am a better person for it. Soon instead of tears when I think of you I will only laugh and smile remembering all the joy you brought me. We had a special bond and I love you.
Jackie