How Leroy Won the Lottery

by Joya Jiménez DiStefano

Looking at this dog’s ears and length, you might think, “Corgi?”  But his coat and creamy coloring with subtle peach speckles suggest three or four other things. For sure, he is incredibly cute, and soft, and funny. 

Adopted from the County Shelter, no one knows how Leroy ended up on the side of the road with fifty wounds all over his body.  The shelter staff thinks he was used as a bait dog.  A veterinary clinic treated Leroy and his owner was called.  When the man heard about Leroy’s injuries, he said he didn’t want him back.

FOTAS has a very small network foster homes, and among these is “Heaven on Hasty,” a tiny horse farm (the front lawn has been converted to a horse paddock) owned by Toni and Gary.  Six months ago they chose to share their good fortune with dogs needing a short-term “halfway house” en route to their final destination. “It’s something we can do together,” Toni says.

Until very recently, Toni and Gary had their three-dog maximum: “Happy Man” (Manny), shy “Hope,” and “Cuckoo,” all rescues.  But they lost 12-year-old Cuckoo to cancer. 

Toni’s policy says that fosters do not live in the house with her dogs. “They shouldn’t be allowed to think that they are home.  They are just passing through,” she says, “But they go on three leash walks a day with the other dogs and have a big yard to run in when someone is home.” 

Toni received the call saying that poor Leroy needed a place to convalesce.

Leroy was a special case.  “Oh, he was such a mess! I felt so bad for him, with all those injuries all over his body, his ears, his groin,” Toni said.  And Leroy was so cute, and soft, and good, and funny, and there was this void left by Cuckoo that needed filling, so Leroy got to live in the house.  Leroy made Toni and Gary laugh again.  They fell in love with Leroy, and decided that Leroy did not deserve to go through another change. When Toni rides in Hitchcock Woods, Leroy goes, too.

The FOTAS volunteers at the shelter who knew Leroy, and Toni and Gary, say, “Leroy won the Lottery.”  Toni says that the spirit of Cuckoo returned in Leroy.  Leroy’s favorite yoga position is “Frog Dog,” and seeing the length of him sprawled on the tile floor, head between his paws, large ears at 10 and 2 o’clock, one has to laugh.

Toni and Gary have a new mission.  FOTAS needs large and medium plastic dog shipping crates.  They are essential for the transfer program, and often used in foster care.  If you have one to donate, contact Toni (642-5744) and she will pick it up.  Its value is tax deductible and you’ll make more room in your garage. 

Decide to foster, if you can. “It’s rewarding, easy and short term,” says Toni. Of course if you can’t bless us in these important ways, we’ll take a donation and thank you very much.

A retired organizational problem-solver and radical educator, Joya is an artist, Servant Leader, and co-founder of FOTAS, Inc.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

August 19^th thru 25^th 2013

Received:       54 dogs and 45 cats

Adopted:        15 dogs and 3 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” HALF PRICE thru 9/14!

TINK -  17 mos. 11lbs. House trained, gorgeous and ready to go home for ONLY $35!    

PATSY – 1 yr. 49 lbs.  This gal is a charmer just waiting to be rescued! ONLY $35!

*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip

*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.