On Dec. 18, the couple who adopted Sunny from Pima Animal Care Center celebrated her rebirth β the first six months of their dogβs vibrant new life.
Since bringing her home they have lavished the young shepherd mix with attention and love, discovering that Sunny lives to fetch tennis balls. She puts herself to bed at 7:31 p.m. every night, talks in her sleep and gets along with the coupleβs three rescued cats.
She has taken two road trips and 10 weeks of obedience training. She has a pile of toys she can retrieve by name β knowing the difference, for example, between a cuddly flapjack and a bone.
All they know about her previous life is that it nearly ended May 12.
A 911 caller reported finding a dog hanging
from a tree by her jaw near Kino Stadium. The case drew international attention and prompted an outpouring of financial support for PACCβ nearly $25,000.
Sunny had multiple injuries to her muzzle as well as brain trauma that required intensive veterinary care, costing more than $1,500. Jennifer Wilcox, PACCβs director of veterinary services, cared for the young dog in her own home for several days. Sunny spent the rest of her recovery in a foster home.
The retired teacher called PACC the day she heard about the rescue, offering to adopt Sunny sight unseen. She continued to call PACC weekly throughout the dogβs recovery. The coupleβs previous dog had died at age 18 a year earlier, and they were ready to share their lives.
Because no suspects have been identified in Sunnyβs abuse case, the couple asked to remain anonymous.
It is beyond them how people can be so evil, she said. But Sunnyβs rescue has also shown how good people can be, she said, noting the increased donations to help others at PACC.
βSheβs a sweet dog, and sheβs extremely smart. Weβve got this eye-to-eye thing going on β we can read each otherβs minds,β she said.
βShe is just the love of our lives.β
