Given the chance, he will play fetch with you long after the setting sun.
He will lick you silly and steal your heart in the blink of a smile.
He loves handing out sucker punches for free and swims just for the heck of it. But don’t let this active boy fool you … he’s pondering his first release, a book on the joys of bedtime snuggling.
For Harley, life is a bountiful one; complete with fabulous food, a well-filled toy box, wrestling matches with his brother “Boomer,” tummy rubs and mastering new ways to continuously impress his 2-legged guardians for tasty treats.
Life for Harley wasn’t always an easy one. He had to fight incredible odds early in life, being under a year old. He lived in a home protected by a 3 foot tall fence which proved no fence at all, for a Lab that enjoys adventure.
Harley had been collected by animal control more times than we know until one day, when his former family decided they couldn’t bail him out of puppy prison anymore. So off he went to the pound. He was there a few days until he was slated to be euthanized.
Across town, a family was mourning the loss of their 14 year old doggie “Springs” who died the week of Thanksgiving, leaving his brother “Boomer” – a 6 month old chocolate Lab – the sole dog of the pack. Boomer’s life was shaken up hard. He showed signs of depression – being uninterested in food or play… and spending much of the day searching the house and yard for his brother. Boomer never found Springs and after 2 solid weeks of sadness his family knew they had to take action to mend the pack’s broken hearts.
Initially, they thought they were searching for a yellow lab puppy, but after kennel cough prevented a litter of puppies from near-term adoption, they stumbled upon this picture (above) of a strapping young lad with a nose of pink who went by the name of “Sherwin.”
On the finest of days, the family of 3 piled into the car and drove to meet the little guy. After being greeted by an immediate sucker punch at the front door and an hour of effortless lab-tag later, the family knew this pup was the one.
Harley’s foster family shed tears when it came time for him to leave. He had only been with them 2 short weeks after being plucked within hours of the end of his days, yet he still touched their hearts with his sweet, sweet soul.
To those who have experienced and propel the joys of animal rescue, a million thanks!
And for those considering a rescue pup, please save these souls who are fighting for their lives. Give them a second chance to live and share life.
You may just find, as did we, that the lucky soul saved wasn’t the one at the end of their lifeline … it was the one who created a new lifeline, by picking up where others left off.
Oh, what a great feeling that is!
Joe Paul Reider
Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.
Email: JoePaul@KW.com
Mobile: 512-222-3302
Web: JoePaul.KWRealty.com
PS ~ “Why did you name him Harley,” you ask? His foster Dad rode one. And we could think of no better way to honor this guy.
Want to read more about Harley? Learn about his amazing adventure to Italy with his brother Boomer!
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