Success Story

Anna

Family Gal

When the Watson family of Lake Charles, LA, adopted one-year-old husky Anna, the pooch was weakened by malnutrition and a case of heartworm. Says adoptive mom Kay Watson, “She was sickly, but there was a spark in her blue eyes and a little dance in her step. We knew there was still lots of play in her—she just needed to get healthy.”

When Anna arrived at her new home, she simply wanted to rest. She curled up in an armchair in Kay’s bedroom and that night, when Kay got into bed, Anna crawled in with her.

The canine's recovery was slow, but after a year of healthy food, exercise and good lovin’, Kay and her husband couldn't help but notice the improvements. “Her coat was beautiful and full,” Kay recalls, “and we could just begin to see muscles on her previously thin body. And on walks, Anna became very animated with people and other dogs—she wanted to play!”

Now—at four years old—the once-malnourished pooch weighs over 40 pounds and seems to invite everyone she meets to be a part of her extended family. “Anna is a lover!” Kay exclaims. “Her goal in life is to greet everyone, regardless of whether they’re a ‘dog person’ or not.”

And when it comes to asking for her own needs to be met, this girl has no shame. “When Anna wants something, she ‘woo-woos,’” says Kay. “It’s how she demands attention from everyone, even from strangers. And if I’m playing on the computer for too long, she comes up and pushes down the screen on the laptop.”

Anna is a wonderful companion—gentle, loving and content just to be with her family. Of course, a silly diva also lurks behind those blue eyes. “When she wants to cuddle, she’ll run and jump up into our laps, demanding that we pay attention,” says Kay. “She’s the queen of our family—and our sofa!”



Submit your Success Story

To submit your Success Story, please email us at happytails@aspca.org. If your story is chosen, it will be featured on our website and weekly newsletter. Please include:

  • Your full name and e-mail address.
  • Your story - please include the month and year you brought your animal companion home, how he/she has changed since then and some funny quirks about your pet's personality.
  • Up to three photos in JPG format.
  • Please write "Happy Tail" in the subject line.

Success Story Archive
 

Share ThisShare This

Share

Special Features


In Praise of Older Dogs
An awesome cast of characters who truly exemplify that special senior spirit.

In Praise of Older Cats
Frisky felines who’ve kept on trucking and are still living it up in their golden years.

Best Buddies
Stories of unlikely companions, from a hamster who hangs out in his feline pal’s food dish to a bird who perches on the head of his happy guinea pig friend.