A story to take you into the New Year

If you're a regular reader of this blog, then you know that I keep things very light and fun here. Today, I'm going to deviate a little, but its for a really good cause. I'm going to tell you the story of a lost, sick puppy, and the city that came together to save him.

 This is what Rudy looked like when he was found

Rudy was found in a snowstorm in early December on a sorta-freeway. He had a chain around his neck, and it looked like his little nose had been frozen off. He was skinny and seemed like he had been wandering alone for a long, long time. With the help of some good samaritans, his rescuer Angie managed to lure him into her car. From there he was taken to the Cleveland APL for a quick check-up and then transferred to Secondhand Mutts. The volunteers at Secondhand Mutts took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with an ear infection, lupus, and heartworm. The shelter made an appeal on facebook, and in the local news, and then an amazing thing happened:

Donations came pouring in from all over the city. People stopped by with food, blankets, and toys. And most of all, they came to spend time with Rudy, to help him heal and surround him with love.

Rudy with his guardian angel Angie

Less than 10 days after Rudy was found, a wonderful family stepped up to foster him, just in time for the holidays. And so, the poor lost dog ended up spending Christmas warm and safe in a loving home. Rudy still has a long way to go in his treatment, but the generosity that Cleveland has shown will ensure that he receives the best care available.

And this is why I love this city so much: We may be declared the "most miserable city" by some media outlets, but the truth is we're not. Sure, we may have crappy winter weather, and mediocre sports teams, and unemployment, and falling home prices, but when push comes to shove, we band together as a community, and find a way to help each other out. We're no strangers to adversity, but the beauty of Clevelanders is that it doesn't scare us. We tackle it head on, and don't stop fighting until we find a way out. So, if you had a bad 2010, keep your chin up. 2011 is another year, and things will be better. You're a Clevelander! Happy New Year!!!

If you'd like to know more about Rudy's story visit his page on Secondhand Mutts.