Today we’d like to introduce you to Fallon Gomez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Fallon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Back in 2008 when my husband and I met, he owned a German Shepherd named Sebastian, he was a big and beautiful boy. He got so attached to me and of course, I loved him deeply. Although I grew up surrounded by dogs my entire life back in Guatemala, I never really form a relationship with a dog as much as I did with Sebastian. After two years, we adopted Roxy, a German Shepherd mix and two years later, we adopted a stray dog, Kenny our little puggle. Sebastian taught me to understand the breed and also taught me the value of a friendship between a human and a dog. Unfortunately, Sebastian passed away in 2012, it was a heartbreak we thought we could not recover from it. He was a great dog and he taught my other two everything he knew, from his love of the ball to his love of us. The heartbreak was too big that we didn’t think we could get another dog, however, the heartbreak didn’t compare with they years of joy he brought to our life. Even though I only spent a few years with him, he made those years full of happiness. A few months later, we decided to go to the rescue just to look at some dogs and get information how to volunteer. The first time we got there, we took some dogs for a walk, we realized that there were many dogs that needed a home and we thou ght it might be good for my other two to have another friend. The second time we went back, we saw this giant puppy alone in a room, he lifted his head and look at us. We came to the glass door and watched him, then we asked the rescue volunteers, what was wrong with him? They told us, he had just been brought there a few days ago, they didn’t know him well and he was sick with pneumonia. Something about that dog just pulls our heartstrings. We told them we wanted to adopt him, filled out the paperwork and went home.
That day was the beginning of a new adventure, after June 2012, we started volunteering and fostering. We have probably fostered more than 40 dogs, all sizes, ages, and breeds. Watching a dog that is so broken, who sometimes don’t trust humans to become a totally new dog, a happy, loving dog is one of the greatest joys you could ever have. It is not an easy road, it takes a lot of time, patience, love and understanding to get a dog ready for their forever home but when they find that perfect person and you see the bond they start forming the moment they meet is the most beautiful moment to watch.
Has it been a smooth road?
When you are involved in rescue, there is never an easy moment. You go through a lot emotionally, especially when you get a dog that is totally broke and lost. Watching them get scared of everything, even their own shadow is painful, watching those dogs that have been abused and that it takes months for them to trust you is heartbreaking. Every dog has a different story, sometimes the older dogs are easier, younger dogs and puppies are more work. People don’t help either, sometimes they want the perfect dog, a dog that is trained, a dog that behaves and they don’t want to put any effort into them.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I foster and volunteer for Angels Bark Dog Rescue. They save the dogs that sometimes no one else gives them a chance, seniors, sick dogs and dogs that show behavioral issues, urgent dogs that no other rescue has taken or no one has adopted and they are running out of time.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Every one that is involved with Angels Bark Dog Rescue deserves credit, all the fosters, volunteers, those who give their time to keep the rescue engaged with the public whether is online or in person, those who transport dogs, sometimes in the very last minute, those who step up and offer their home as a temporary foster home, everyone who donates.
Rescues would not be able to work without the help of all those people who share their time to help those dogs in need.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.angelsbarkrescue.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelsbarkdogrescue/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelsBarkDogRescue/
Image Credit:
Chris Gomez
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