Old man and his dog find an Angel at their door

SAINT MARTINVILLE, LA-Imagine being 70-years-old, having cancer and that cancer took all your money and left you in a home with no working utilities or food? You are too weak to even keep up your lawn let alone have the money or strength to fix the broken windows and door that other people broke thinking it was an abandoned home… Now imagine the only thing keeping you safe in your own home is an 11 year-old dog that has been by your side since she was a baby…… And now there is a knock on your door…

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This is what happened to Ol’ Man (his and his dogs name is being withheld for their protection).

Robin Menard President and trainer of Special Needs Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation (SNARR), was sent to Ol’ Man’s home on a tip that there was an aggressive dog tied up inside a house that needed rescued.

Menard quickly jumped in her car thinking the worst case of possibilities for the poor dog trapped inside the house.

“No electricity or water with a man... Quickly the mind starts assuming all kinds of things... Hum… a pit bull… There was a mention of being in bad shape… possible scars or wounds ... Was he fighting her? Possibly ... breeding her? Possibly ...” Menard stated.

Menard reached the house knowing she wasn’t leaving without the dog. “When I pulled up to the house, I instantly heard barking and saw a sheet fall from the window.”

Menard knocked on the broken, partially opened door, but what started out as a mission to save one soul turned into a divine mission to save them both.

Robin Menard becomes their savior.

“I was met at the door by a skinny man I am guessing to be around 70-years-old with a cane. I asked him if there is a dog tied up in his home and he instantly started shaking and said “yes mam”. “I explained I was there to take the dog! It can’t live in a home without any electricity or water and tied up.” Menard explained to the man.

That was when the Ol’ Man broke down and went on to explain a very sad situation.

The man went into the hospital with prostate cancer and had no medical coverage, when he got out his wife had left him.

His electric bill was now months behind, and he would have to come up with $841.00 to turn back on.

His medication was taking all of what little money he had, and he stated, "I keep saying when I get on my feet… but how do I ever get on my feet when I’m sinking more and more and have no one?"

Menard stated, “He looked at me with tears in his eyes and he said, “He got the dog when she was 3 weeks-old, and that was 11-years ago.” “She is aggressive with everyone but him, which I saw for myself.”

Menard continued, “His door doesn’t close and people have broken out his windows trying to get into house. He is afraid she will get out and bite someone, and he will lose her, so he ties her to the sofa and sleeps with her so no one will get him while he sleeps.”

The man stated to Menard, “He knew he couldn't keep her that way, but all they have is each other, and he is trying to keep them both alive.”

“I looked into the house at the dog with a flash light, and there she was, with newspaper, tied to the sofa, and obviously old, and has not had the best life, but even though this man didn't have food to eat there on the newspaper was a handful of uneaten dog food.” Menard explained.

“He said he use to bring her outside, but she knocks him down and he is afraid she will get away an bite someone and be killed or stolen.” “So what do I do? Do I take an 11-year-old dog that is aggressive away from this man who will likely have to be put to sleep?” Menard questioned.

“I didn't know what to do? I knew this dog couldn't stay this way, but I also believe this man is living for this dog, and if I take the dog away it would be the death of him in a very cruel way!” Menard ended.

Menard decided to help them both.

The first thing Menard did was get in her car and stop at the local grocery store to get food and supplies for Ol’ Man and Ol’ Girl.

“Hillary and I went grocery shopping and we bought them food, dog food, and some bones for Ol’ Girl, water, and bowl’s, and took it back to them.” Menard stated.

But Menard did not stop there. She posted their plea to Facebook and have raised over $1,515.00 for the Ol’ family.

Menard and SNARR have set a goal of $5000.00 to buy windows and a door for the Ol’ Man’s home.

Menard and the other volunteers will be working on the homes wiring to make sure it is up to code and can handle a generator while they wait for the utilities to be turned back on. You can follow their progress on, A Man and his dog photo on Facebook.

There are still Angels among us, and the Ol’ family met one of them at their door.

If you would like to learn more about SNARR you can visit them on Facebook, or if you would like to contribute to Go Fund Me campaign, click the blue links.