Dog Labelled "Broken" Finally Can't Stop Smiling After Being Rescued

"Essentially, the only time he is not smiling is when he is asleep or eating.”

Stephanie

• Published in Animal Stories
• February 6, 2020

It's hard to believe that Sanford the dog was once described as "broken," when you look at his bright, beaming smile today. In fact, Sanford's foster mama, Karen Velazquez, says he is the happiest dog she's ever met.

“I am presently on my 52nd foster, and I can genuinely say that I’ve never had anyone as jovial as him,” Velazquez says.

“He looks at me in a way that no other animal or human has ever looked at me, including my own pets. Essentially, the only time he is not smiling is when he is asleep or eating.”

However, sadly Sanford wasn't always so happy. Before Karen took him in, he was in a very bad way and desperately in need of help. When he was rescued by animal control in April he had been hit by a car and was unable to walk. Rescuers also found a bullet wound in his right hind leg.

Sanford was taken to a small shelter in Dallas, Texas. He stayed there for a week and received no medical care during that time.

When a volunteer from a local rescue group saw Sanford at the shelter, she knew she just had to help.

“He was physically broken… and when the volunteer went to see him, he didn’t really make any effort to come and say hello,” Kerry Anechiarico, executive director of Dallas DogRRR said.

“It’s almost like he had given up, and he was just waiting for his time to come.”

As soon as Sanford was placed into foster care with Velazquez, a huge change occurred.

“He came to my home on May 1, just a few days after he was released from the hospital,” Velazquez said.

“He has been all smiles ever since. I think the minute he came to my home, he realized he was in a safe place.”

Sanford, or "Sanfee," now spends his time going for walks, eating home cooked meals and playing with Karen's other dogs.

“He’s pretty much a normal dog for a senior of 10 years. He’s like the older gentleman that you see in a nursing home. He may be 95 years old, but he acts like he’s in his 50s.”

The goal now will be to find Sanford a forever home. “He’ll be a great family dog. He’ll get along with other dogs and all humans. He even does well with kids.”

“He’s the perfect companion dog that you can come home to.”

“He’ll wag his tail and greet you, and he’ll just keep you company for the rest of the day. He’s just a happy-go-lucky dog now.”

Stephanie