Rescuing Stella

It started about four months ago. Like everyone else, we work during the day. We were thinking Bella, our border collie-ish rescue dog, might like a friend to keep her company during the day.

We started watching the animal shelter websites. Yesterday at one of the shelters, my wife found Buster, a blind pug who needed a caring home. She called and found out there was a waiting list to adopt Buster, which was good. Rather too many than not enough.

Suzy had also come across an animal adoption group that was going to be adopting out dogs yesterday. We were already primed, so we went.

Saturday, as you’ll recall, was blustery and cold with intermittent rain. Nasty. But the rescue group, Almost Home, was holding two adoption events in the afternoon.

We went with Almost Home because it’s a nonprofit, no-kill shelter. If they take on an animal, they keep it until it’s adopted out, however long that may be.

We went to the event at Premier Pet Supply in Southfield. The Almost Home people were just setting up. Debbie, the point person for Almost Home, started telling us about a 2-year-old terrier that had spent her life tied to a tree in someone’s backyard. Right then, one of her volunteers brought in Stella.

Stella weighs all of 10.8 pounds and her ribs show. Debbie asked Suzy if she wanted to hold Stella, and that was it. We passed Stella back and forth. Once, when I was holding her, Suzy disappeared and came back with a green plaid fleece sweater for Stella, who was shivering.

Clearly, it wasn't long before we were home and introducing Stella to our two cats, Nikita and Sophia, and Bella.

Our first job is to straighten out Stella’s diet and fatten her up some. We also have to figure out the hierarchy for sleeping at night. Stella piled into our bed with everyone else, crawled under the covers and stayed there pretty much for the evening.

I would recommend the Almost Home shelter if you’re looking for a friend. You can contact them at
(248) 200-2695.