Sanford, once considered a “broken dog,” now can’t stop grinning with joy.
Karen Velazquez, Sanford’s foster mother, describes him as the happiest dog she has ever met. She told The Dodo, “I’ve fostered 52 dogs so far, and I can honestly say I’ve never encountered one as cheerful as Sanford. He looks at me in a way no other animal, not even my own pets, ever has. He only stops smiling when he’s sleeping or eating.”
Before Velazquez took Sanford in, he was in desperate need of help. In April, Sanford was struck by a car and left immobile until animal control rescued him. They also discovered a bullet wound in his right hind leg.
Sanford was initially taken to a small municipal shelter in Dallas, Texas, where he spent a week without medical attention due to the shelter’s lack of funds. It was during this time that a volunteer from Dallas DogRRR noticed Sanford and knew he needed immediate assistance.
Kerry Anechiarico, executive director of Dallas DogRRR, recounted to The Dodo that Sanford, at that time, showed no interest in greeting anyone, as if he had lost all hope and was simply waiting for his chance.
The turning point came when Sanford entered foster care with Velazquez. “He arrived at my home on May 1,” Velazquez shared. “Since then, he has been beaming. It was as if he knew right away that my home was a safe place.”
Velazquez, who lovingly calls Sanford “Sanfee,” now sees him enjoying home-cooked meals, daily walks, and playtime with other dogs. Despite being ten years old, Sanford acts much younger. Anechiarico noted, “He’s like a senior citizen living in a nursing home. Though he’s 95 in dog years, he behaves as if he’s in his fifties.”
While Sanford is thriving in his foster home, everyone hopes he will find a permanent family soon. Anechiarico believes Sanford will make an excellent family dog, stating, “He’s great with kids, gets along with other dogs, and people love him. Sanford is the ideal companion dog who will greet you with a wagging tail and stay by your side all day.”
