Salty Dog
Sometimes old dogs get lucky and our Salty is one of those dogs! A big black nine-year old Rottweiller mix is not a dog the average person is looking for when they come to the shelter to adopt. So Salty’s story is an inspiration to all of us and we want to share it with you. Salty came to us the first time when his owner moved away. He settled in at the shelter and became the gentle giant of the play yard, offering a smile and a wag to anyone who stopped to say hello. But because of his size and his age, five months passed with no one showing interest in him.Then one day a very kind woman and her young son came looking for a companion, and to our delight, realized Salty would be the perfect dog for them. We were overjoyed. Throughout the next two years we heard from them often about how well Salty was doing. Then suddenly, his good fortune ran out. Hurricane Wilma hit the Keys and Salty’s family, like so many others, lost their home and were left with a very uncertain future. They were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to give up their much loved companion.
Like ours, a dog’s life can take lots of twists and turns. One morning a man came into the shelter to see if we had a dog named Salty. He knew the dog from years ago. We reassured him that Salty was in a great home and he left. We didn’t see any need to ask his name. But ironically, that was the very day that Salty’s family decided to bring him back to us!
We immediately tried to contact the man through the local paper but without any luck. Months passed and understandably, this time Salty wasn’t as happy as he was during his previous stay with us. His tail wasn’t so eager to wag and the smile didn’t appear as often. We all noticed it and tried to give him lots of daily love and attention, but we still saw the sadness in him. Then once again Salty’s luck changed.
Someone stopped by the shelter who not only recognized Salty but also knew the man who had come looking for him months before! The reunion that followed was one of those moments that keeps us all working at the FKSPCA. The instant that big old dog saw his friend, the tail never stopped wagging and the smile on his face came back! In no time Salty was walking out the door to start his new life (which, by the way, includes a new love interest, a pretty eight year old Lab mix named Harley). So after a long and winding road, Salty has found his way into what we hope will be his final happy home with someone who loves him. From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you to Salty’s new dad, John. It’s people like him who inspire us to continue being there for the animals.
Directions & Hours
| FKSPCA Key West Animal Shelter | Hours of Operation |
|
5230 College Road |
Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday |
Application & Email Us
| Download Application | Email Us |
If you are interested in adopting one of our great pets, click here for an application. |