Should you have a moment when you temporarily lose faith in humanity, read this story submitted by one of our wonderful readers. We are so blessed to be part of such an amazing community. On a daily basis, you lift our spirits and remind of us of the good in the world. Here’s to small acts of kindness and for taking a chance on those in need of a second chance.

Rusty is a wonderful old guy. I didn’t meet Rusty until he was already nine years old. I had heard that the Animal Humane Society raided a Cavalier King Charles puppy mill in southern Minnesota and the dogs would be up for adoption soon; I was at the Humane Society door bright and early on the first day that adoptions were allowed. Many other people had the same idea and were lined up out to the parking lot. I was very surprised. Someone from the Humane Society came out and told us that eight Cavaliers were ready for adoption that day and more would be ready later in the week. With the crowd I knew I wouldn’t get a puppy but watched as people rushed in. I tried two other times and each time the crowds were too large. People love puppies.

I kept visiting every once in a while, but never with any luck. Then, one Monday morning, I stopped by and there was a small, rust-coloured Cavalier scratching the sides of his cage earnestly. I asked to bring him to a visiting room. When I placed him on the floor he ran to the wall and peed. Then he went to the other walls and dampened them too. That done he settled into my lap and didn’t leave. He was nine years old, didn’t have any teeth, was not housebroken, his tongue hung out of his mouth because of the lack of teeth, and he acted deaf. But, he was wonderful. He had an indomitable spirit about him. I learned that he had been one of the studs at the puppy mill and had already been adopted once but was brought back because of his “peeing problem.” 

I put some money down to hold him and said I would be back tomorrow to pick him up—but I couldn’t wait that long. I was back in a couple hours. I had got my other Cavalier Snoopy ready first and when we got him home, Rusty fit right in. He was a little goofy and air headed but wonderful. With patience and a bellyband made out of an ACE bandage and paper towel for absorbency, he was housebroken in a few weeks.

Always affectionate, cheerful, and spunky—that is Rusty. Some people ask me why I adopted such an old dog with obvious problems but once you see the sparkle in his eyes, you can’t help but love him.

Life is good for us. Rusty is a wonderful old guy. I would have liked to know him as a puppy.