Fostering at its Finest

Mr. Wilson

The Harvey, Mr. Wilson & Yodel

The Harvey

Mr. Wilson has sat patiently for over a year waiting for his chance. There have been a few “almosts,” and his head hangs in defeat with each return. He looks at us with eyes that say, “I tried, but I’m too strong.” The loss of his dog friend, Tyson, along with other fellow friends leaving to be adopted, tore him to bits. Watching him suffer the grief made losing our beloved Tyson even harder. We gave him time and waited for his spark to return, but losing so many buddies showed us the sanctuary wasn’t for him, and he desperately needed a family. Indeed, someone would adopt this sweet lovebug, right?

A large German shorthaired pointer who never takes a photo without a smirk is one of the quirks that make Mr. Wilson so incredibly loveable. Despite his ten years, he still has some spunk, especially when he finds a comrade in arms. If the sun’s out, you’ll find him snoozing the afternoon away under its rays. He’s never seen a fireplace he didn’t love lying near, and he’s highly protective of those he holds dear. That’s where our staff member, Jeff Warthen, comes into play.

Jeff is our SDS dog whisperer. His alpha personality, paired with the patience of a saint, makes him so successful with any canine. Our SDS seniors love him, even in the most challenging cases. He also keeps our sanctuary thriving, as no repair is too hard for him to tackle. Without Jeff, we would be lost. It’s that simple.

A dog named The Harvey, his official title, has been living with Jeff for quite some time now. He was rescued from the streets of Puerto Rico, and Jeff worked tirelessly with him to ease his anxiety. Sadly, Jeff watched Mr. Wilson’s potential adoptions end unsuccessfully and felt he had a similar connection to him as he does to The Harvey. Mr. Wilson doesn’t seem to know his strength, and on walks, he can be reactive to dogs, sometimes to the point of pulling down his owner. His protective nature also causes some alarm as he puts himself between his beloved and charges at potential dangers. It’s all he knows. The Harvey and Mr. Wilson knew only anxiety until Jeff showed them how a beloved human could turn the tide.

When we lost Tyson, Mr. Wilson’s best friend, we weren’t sure if Mr. Wilson would recover. He laid around for weeks, depressed, searching for his friend. While we mourned Tyson’s loss and ached for Mr. Wilson’s heartbreak, it was Jeff who reminded us Mr. Wilson just needed time. Grief ebbs and flows in us all, and we needed to help Mr. Wilson find a spark to continue without his friend. Jeff’s steadfast patience proved to be correct, like always. Mr. Wilson discovered his spark slowly but surely when he went home with Jeff. The Harvey loved his new friend, and Jeff’s other dog, Yodel, said, “The more, the merrier.” Over a month in, Jeff has acquired another beloved senior, and Mr. Wilson couldn’t be more thrilled. Sometimes, the answer to our prayers is literally within arm’s reach. For Mr. Wilson, Jeff was that answer.