‘Heartbroken’ dog struggled after losing canine friend. Now, he has a new playmate
A “heartbroken” dog struggled after losing his canine friend — and now, he has a new playmate.
The new addition, Snickers, is starting her next chapter in Georgia after being adopted from a Florida animal rescue.
“When we get them into a new home and it’s one that we all really, really like — which is in this case — everybody’s just happy,” Patricia Robles, founder and intake coordinator for the Florida Poodle Rescue, told McClatchy News in a Sept. 5 phone interview.
The heartwarming adoption came after Snickers landed at the St. Petersburg-based rescue in early August. She was about 10 to 15 pounds underweight and had hookworms when she arrived from a breeding business that was closing, Robles said.
“Former breeding mama, Snickers, had never had a family of her own,” the rescue wrote Aug. 31 on Facebook. “Enter former adopters, Stephanie and Michael.”
In July, the family lost their other Florida Poodle Rescue dog to cancer. The situation was tough on the owners’ children and left their other dog, Basilone, “heartbroken.”
“Stephanie wanted to share the love she had for Darla with another poodle,” the rescue wrote in its Facebook post. “Today, Snickers joined their family.”
Snickers is described as a “sweet” 6- or 7-year-old dog who likes to please others. She received treatment when she got to the rescue and is now settling into her new home near the Georgia coast.
“Their German shepherd was in mourning (because) their standard (poodle) had died,” Robles said. “So, he’s very happy to have another playmate.”
As Facebook users basked in the good news, Robles hopes people will consider giving older dogs a second chance.
“If a dog is a little bit older, it doesn’t mean that they’re not valuable and can’t be a participant in your family,” Robles said.
St. Petersburg is near Tampa.
This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 8:25 AM with the headline "‘Heartbroken’ dog struggled after losing canine friend. Now, he has a new playmate."
