Winter Edition - Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County

New Beginnings an
Freddy Faulkner
It would seem they were a match made in heaven, Joan Faulkner thought
when she spied Freddy, an adorable 10 pound Pomeranian, waiting to be placed
in a kennel at HSVB&IRC eight years ago. She had been hoping to adopt a Pom.
Joan, a therapy dog volunteer, noticed Freddy’s sweet eyes and just knew he was
the one she’d been waiting for.
After a test-meet with her other dog, Coco, Freddy joined the family. Since
then, Freddy has become Joan’s partner, providing therapy for patients at Health-
South where he is considered a member of the staff and has the run of the facility.
As fate would have it, besides helping others, Freddy used his special therapy powers
for Joan while she recovered from a stroke three years ago.
This tiny dog chooses people as his most favorite toy! Freddie may be a small
dog, but he makes a mighty big difference when he’s doing his job of helping
others in their time of need.
LS
Call it animal magnetism, but sometimes that’s all it takes to create a special
bond. Jacqui Shearer felt it when she visited the shelter with her daughter Nicolette
and met Samson last June. “We saw him in the cage, and he looked so sad and miserable,”
said Shearer, of a then mangy little cat. She returned with her son Cameron,
and they knew Samson was the one.
But when they came in to adopt him, Samson had become ill, and the vet said
the outcome wasn’t looking good. “He looked awful, but I wanted him so much; I
don’t know why.” She took Samson to Dr. Gambella who determined that the problem
was severe allergies.
Despite that inauspicious start, Samson, a flame-point Persian mix, has blossomed
into a beauty. “He is the best cat ever; we are so blessed. He is so loving and sweet.
Every day he does something that we’re just howling about; he’s a constant joy.”
MS
Samson Shearer
Harley & Sierra Brierton
8
Some years ago, Louise Brierton had nurtured puppies which
then moved on to be trained as guide dogs for the blind. How
ironic, then, that her white German shepherd, Caesar, became blind.
Dismissing suggestions of euthanasia, Louise came to the Shelter
to find a companion for Caesar. Miraculously, Sierra, a border collie,
stepped right in as guide dog, staying beside Caesar and nudging
and guiding him in the right direction.
Then Louise adopted Harley, an abused and fearful springer
spaniel. With care and affection, Harley began to thrive, is now
totally devoted to her teen-age son, and is “the best loved dog on
the block.” In their large fenced yard, the three dogs romp and play
together so vigorously that people watching them might never realize
that one of those dogs is blind.
HB