When Jeanette first visited Austin Pets Alive! (APA) in February, she was planning to fulfill a distinct canine. But these plans modified as quickly as she noticed 10-year-old Beluga, a Carolina canine combine with crooked head and a bunch of particular wants.
“He has a neurological subject, so his head form of tilts to the facet, and he appeared like, ‘Oh, have a look at poor, little me.’ So I stated, ‘Okay, I’ve to see him,'” Jeanette instructed People.
Beluga had been on the Texas shelter since 2022 (greater than 700 days). He is partially deaf and partially blind and has neurological and mobility points, so he required a selected home—one which was slow-paced with sufficient room for him to get round comfortably.
Jeanette, 74, simply so occurred to be searching for a low-energy pup after the recent deaths of her two senior dogs.
After spending time with Beluga, Jeanette felt like he was good for her.
Austin Pets Alive!, Karen Hardwick, and Amanda Stronza
“I needed a canine that was extra placid, and Velcro match that invoice. He cannot leap up; his again legs are weak. He cannot hump, which is one other plus in a male canine,” she instructed People.
Shortly after, they started the foster-to-adopt course of, a program provided by APA that helps dogs acclimate to a home by offering at-home habits consults and lifelong adoption assist.
After just a few days with Jeanette, Beluga “grew to become extra personable.” She instructed People that he nonetheless acted like “a sedate old gentleman” but in addition “perked up.” He even started trotting round her yard, which is one thing he hadn’t achieved at APA.
“He’s simply bloomed,” Jeanette stated.
Beluga additionally received a becoming new identify: Velcro.
“He’s by no means greater than two toes from my facet. That’s why I renamed him Velcro. If I stand up, he will get up. Wherever I’m going, he follows me. If I’m up and transferring, he is up and transferring with me,” the proud canine mother defined.
Jeanette admits to “spoiling the canine wild” with an abundance of toys, beds, kisses, and naturally, treats. Velcro additionally joins Jeanette on her each day walks.
“I’m not that spry myself, nevertheless it provides me a purpose to get out within the recent air and walk within the woods,” she stated, including, “We do not walk; we stroll.”
A consultant for APA instructed Southern Living that they “keep each other young!”
Jeanette hopes her adoption story will encourage different folks to not overlook particular wants and senior dogs.
“They deserve love, and they give as much love as they get,” she stated in a press release. “They respond to love just as well, if not more than younger dogs. Velcro has adopted me, I didn’t adopt him, he adopted me. He has chosen me, I’m his mom and my roommate is his auntie.”
 in February, she was planning to meet a different dog. But those plans changed when she saw 10-year-old Beluga, a Carolina dog mix with a host of special needs.){kind=link}