Retired dentist Brian Eberhart liked a puppy he met at a shelter so much that he decided to camp outside the shelter days later to be the first to see him, so he could adopt him.
The dog Elliot was rescued by volunteers and welcomed at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, in California (USA). He was a frequent victim of mistreatment by his former guardians and had to spend a lot of time in rehabilitation to regain weight and overcome his traumas.
One of the shelter volunteers, who was Brian’s neighbor and friend, took the puppy to his home to give him more comfort in his recovery.
Elliot spent a few months in this foster home, where he had plenty of time to bond with the retired dentist.
When he was considered fully recovered, the dog was sent to the Palm Springs Animal Shelter again.
Brian feared that he would be adopted by a new family that lived too far away, and would not be able to see Elliot anymore. He also feared that the puppy would be the victim of the same neglect he suffered as a puppy…
Then he had an idea: why not adopt the furry one himself? On the day the dog was made available for adoption, the dentist took a lawn chair, a snack and a good book and waited for the shelter to open to be the first to apply.
Upon arriving at the kennel headquarters, the caretakers were surprised to find the elderly man sitting in the garden chair.
Taking his time, Brian waited as long as necessary to take his friend with him. The moment he officially obtained custody of the animal, it was a moment of pure surrender, reciprocity and great joy.
In his new home, Elliot was renamed “Leo” – an acronym for “Love Each Other”. Since then, he has adapted well to his owner’s home and family.
“He is a smart, playful and happy boy who always has an eye on his new parents,” said a carer at the shelter. “We hope that Leo will be very happy with a tutor who loves him dearly”.
