Many shelter dogs have sad stories of neglect, abuse, or abandonment. This is why they often find themselves on death row through no fault of their own.
But we don't hear often enough about the happy endings of these very deserving, very adoptable dogs. If given a chance, they will fill your life with unconditional love, laughter, and happiness with gratitude like no other.
One of these dogs just happens to be Lucy's (from Letters for Lucy), little brother, Armanno. We wrote about Lucy, who was rejected as a therapy dog at a Schuylkill Valley elementary school because of her breed.
We are happy to say that didn't stop Lucy from moving on to bigger and better things. She has been accepted as a therapy dog for autistic children.
But as wonderful as Lucy is, her younger brother is the star of this article.
Armanno, meaning "soldier" in Italian, was on the "to be destroyed" list. With cigarette burns, mange, and a leg broken in several places, he badly needed a hero.
This may be where his story begins, but far from where it ends.
Armanno, formerly Nars, was pulled by Second Chance Rescue NYC Dogs, and his "hero" new mom, Kristen Torchia, drove to NY to show Armanno that he deserved the bright future he was about to embark upon.
He was finally going home.
He had surgery to repair his leg, hydrotherapy, and with lots of care and love during his recuperation, he has recovered from his injuries and his past.
Being a member of the wonderful Torchia family, he enjoys life with his two canine and one human siblings, and of course, his mom and dad. They describe him as the class clown who brings much happiness and laughter to them on a daily basis.
Watch the touching video made by his mom (here) chronicling his journey from death row to his forever home. It is, in fact, the inspiration for this article.
Thank you to the Torchia family for accepting this beautiful boy into your family, and giving him the opportunity to have the great life that he shares with you. Without you, this could have ended very differently for Armanno. He is one lucky boy, and you are lucky to have him.
Happy beginnings are always a pleasure to share. We hope we will have many more for you to enjoy in 2013.
Thanks for reading!
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