Love the Second Time Around

Two hearts were healed when Miro met Sophie while volunteering for Friends of Homeless Animals, Aldie, Virginia

‘Our tale, Sophie's and mine, is a testament to the boundless love that pets bring into our lives, reminding us that even in moments of profound sadness, there's always a glimmer of hope, waiting just around the corner. In helping Sophie, I found my own healing.”

FOHA Pet Info Café Interview

Guest: Miro Liwosz miroliwosz@foha.org

Dog: Sophie

Here is Sophie's adoption story ... 

A tale of renewed hope, how I met Sophie.Losing my dog, my most loyal companion, was like nothing I have ever felt before.  As his final breath caressed my face and his familiar scent clung to my clothes, I felt pieces of me fade with each passing moment. For eleven fantastic years, my noble steed Loki was my constant, molding me into a kinder, more empathetic individual. When cancer took him away, I was left with a gaping hole in my heart that I thought could never be filled.As I grieved, little did I know that only a minutes away, an elderly black Labrador named Sophie was facing her own heartache. Left behind and forsaken, she found herself alone, until the compassionate team of Friends of Homeless Animals shelter (FOHA.ORG) rescued her from hundreds of miles afar. They held onto the hope of granting her a new beginning, a more joyful chapter in her golden years.Sophie was unlike any other dog at the shelter. Her distinct feature, a tail that was black like the rest of her, but with its tip dipped in white, resembled a paintbrush, as if she was destined to paint new memories and joy in my life. She was a senior, with over nine years of wisdom painted in her eyes and a gracefulness that masked her age-related ailments. Being sponsored by the senior care plan from the Grey Muzzle Organization, Sophie's profile mentioned her bad hips and history of osteoporosis. Yet, her spirit remained unyielding and hopeful. FOHA, with the help of the sponsorship, provided her with Adequan monthly injections to manage her pain, ensuring she felt as comfortable as possible in her advancing years.My days of grief stretched into weeks while I looked for solace, while Sophie awaited with hopeful eyes as families came and went to adopt other dogs, but not her. Little I knew then, that destiny seemed to have been secretly weaving its own plans in uniting Sophie and me.While exploring local shelter websites for volunteer opportunities to heal, perhaps searching for a sign of Loki or trying to make sense of the void he left behind, I stumbled upon Sophie’s profile. Maybe I saw a reflection of Loki's spirit in Sophie, maybe it was those gleaming eyes of hers seeming to pierce through the screen calling for me, but I think deep down, I felt a pull towards giving another dog the home they longed for, and to uphold the promise I made to Loki to extend a hand to other dogs, as he did for me.I discovered a “Dog Squad” volunteer program at FOHA and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to offer my companionship and exercise dogs craved. Moreso, I sensed that being around dogs would aid in my own healing. But the true twist of fate came at the end of my level 1 "green dogs" training. As we were set to walk our first dog, I inexplicably found myself standing before Sophie's kennel. In that instant, destiny's intricate design became apparent to me, a formation of an indescribable bond between Sophie and me and the promise of new beginnings.I would continue to visit Sophie at the shelter frequently, with each time bringing more comfort to both of us. We found solace in our shared moments through the joyous walks in nature of the FOHA wooden trails or sitting on the grass by the wooden bench to gaze upon other volunteers walking with dogs. We shared tales of the past and conversed in our own way. With every day, the bond between our spirits grew stronger and more profound.The joyful transformation of Sophie's spirit rekindled my deep love for canine companionship. Many might have seen her age and medical conditions as deterrents, but I viewed them as chapters in her story - a narrative of resilience, strength, and an unyielding hope for love. Every time her “paintbrush” tail wagged, it seemed to symbolize the strokes of beauty and love she added to my world.Overwhelmed with happiness and a desire to deepen our bond, I decided to welcome her into my home as a foster parent. Eagerly, I completed the application, and to my delight, received approval to take Sophie with me. FOHA meticulously prepared everything she'd need – her medications, food, and detailed care instructions. However, the ultimate testament to my commitment came just two days later. The shelter called, mentioning an interested party wanting to meet Sophie, but they assured me I had the first choice to adopt her, but would need to know by the end of the day.Without hesitation, my heart spoke for me: I chose to make Sophie a permanent part of my life.It seems that in the complex fabric of life, threads of sorrow and joy intertwine, creating a narrative that's as unpredictable as it is beautiful. Losing Loki had torn a page from my story, but fate, in its mysterious ways, penned a new chapter with Sophie. Together, we discovered that even in the aftermath of profound loss, love has the power to heal, to renew, and to rebuild. Sophie not only filled the void left by Loki but also brought with her a newfound joy and purpose. Every wag of her tail, every gleam in her eyes, became a testament to the enduring spirit of companionship and the profound ways in which our lives are enriched when we open our hearts to new beginnings. Our tale, Sophie's and mine, is a testament to the boundless love that pets bring into our lives, reminding us that even in moments of profound sadness, there's always a glimmer of hope, waiting just around the corner. In helping Sophie, I found my own healing.