- October 26, 2024
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by: Amy Wade-Carotenuto
Executive Director, Flagler Humane Society
Have you met Sperry? Sperry was originally brought to the Flagler Humane Society by her owner in March 2018. There was a confrontation between their two dogs, and Sperry was severely injured. Her chest and forelegs were riddled with puncture wounds. She was in shock and was unable to walk. When I first met her, she was on a stretcher. The owner was in tears as she signed Sperry over to us. Even though the other dog was the aggressor, they were more attached to the other dog, so Sperry got beat up and lost her home all within a few hours.
Our doctor was at the shelter and made herself available to repair Sperry’s severe wounds. Sperry healed up quickly and became a staff favorite. Shortly after she became healthy again, Sperry was adopted. Within weeks, Sperry’s new family had to move away to live with other family, so Sperry was returned to FHS.
When she came back, she definitely remembered all of her friends here. She raced around our administration hall, tail wagging so fast she was knocking things over. Kisses for everyone. So, up for adoption she went again. She was soon adopted by a woman who wanted a protector. Well, Sperry at least looks the part. She’s a cupcake, though. Before we knew it, Sperry was brought back again — this time because she didn’t bark enough. Again, Sperry raced around the admin hall, greeting staff members with kisses and howls.
Sperry fit in so well around here that she began attending events to show the public how sweet block-headed, pitbull-looking dogs can be. I’ve always said that a shelter should not be a permanent home for an animal, but Sperry thrives on the attention of the large shelter family of staff and volunteers. We began calling her a staff member, even gave her a title: Director of Kisses. Then recently she was promoted to the position of Director of Affection Research and Development. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?
Sperry is good for the staff and volunteers. When we need a soft place to land, Sperry provides us with that unconditional love and support that can only come from an animal.
Fast forward to last month. Sperry is now well over 8 years old and getting gray around her muzzle. One morning, we noticed a small knot on Sperry’s nose. It happened all of a sudden. Was it a bug bite? A bee sting? A veterinary exam determined this growth should be removed ASAP. Having known that tumor-like growths on a dog’s face are usually malignant, we waited on pins and needles for nearly two weeks for those laboratory results. I had all but resigned myself that this was cancer and we would pamper her and love her for whatever time we had left. Then I received the best text I’ve ever received: “Amy, it’s benign.”
So Sperry’s scare is over. We celebrate. I really think Sperry knows. Since we received the good news, Sperry is walking with more spring in her step and has been playing with her toys more than usual. She takes her stuffed animals and flings them across the room only to chase them and do it all over again. So this holiday season, one of the many things we are grateful for is that our Director of Affection Research and Development will be working at the shelter long into the future. So, if you haven’t met Sperry yet, ask for her the next time you’re at the shelter. Customer service is her specialty.
