When my son called me and told me about Hunter, my heart broke. A young couple had brought this gorgeous three-year-old German Shepherd to the shelter, asking to have him put to sleep because they were moving and ‘couldn’t handle a big dog anymore.’
The dog they had raised from a puppy, they just threw him away like he meant nothing.
Of course, the shelter refused to honour their request and kept the dog. But when I heard the story, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I told my son I wanted to take Hunter for myself, but he hesitated.
Mum, he’s a big dog – what if it’s too much for you? – He asked.
But I’d had big dogs before and I knew how to handle them. Besides, when I met Hunter, I could see right away that he was kind and obedient.
I took him home the same day. Now Hunter follows me everywhere, curls up at my feet and looks at me like he realises I rescued him. I can’t imagine how anyone could see him as a burden. He is my family now and I will never leave him.
I live in a small town on the outskirts of a big city, in a small house with a wide veranda and a cosy backyard. Nothing fancy, but enough for a quiet life – and now enough for Hunter to stretch his paws.
When I brought him home, I expected him to be nervous, as the environment is new to him. But Hunter surprised me – he settled right in as if he had always lived here.
In the first few days, I prepared a comfy cot in the living room. As soon as I set it down, Hunter came over, sniffed and lay down with a quiet sigh. It was like he was finally at peace. It warmed my heart. I knew he and I were a perfect match.
The next evening, my son Daniel came to see me. He was worried that it would be hard for me, but when he saw the two of us on the swing on the veranda, he immediately changed his mind.
He’s so calm,’ Daniel said, scratching Hunter behind his ears.
Hunter responded by rubbing his nose against his hand as if to say, ‘Thank you for helping me find a home.
With each passing day, I discovered more of Hunter’s personality traits. He was alert, but not aggressive. Attentive, but not nervous.
One evening, a neighbour’s cat wandered into the yard by accident. I expected Hunter to bark or chase him, but he just tilted his head, sniffed the cat cautiously through the fence, and calmly watched him walk away. That little moment showed me how kind he was.
One morning, Hunter and I went for our usual walk. Sometimes neighbours join us and we chat about everyday things – the weather, new families in town, the fair in the square.
That day I noticed a teenager named Roman standing on the corner with a concerned face. He was looking for something in the bushes.
Is everything okay? – I asked, pulling over.
I lost my keys,’ Roman sighed. – I should be getting home by now; my mum will be worried.
Before I could say anything, Hunter pulled the leash slightly, walked over to the grass by the kerb and started sniffing. A couple of seconds later, I heard a low clinking sound.
And that’s right – Hunter picked up a bunch of keys off the ground!
Wow, thank you so much! – Roman exclaimed, glowing with joy.
I laughed:
He seems to have a better working sense of smell than we do!
From then on, Roman always waved at us when we met and sometimes ran up to pet Hunter. In this way we were not only strengthening our friendship, but also becoming part of our little community.
A month later, there was an unexpected turn.
Daniel called me with concern in his voice:
Mum, you won’t believe who came to the shelter.
Turns out it was Hunter’s former owners. They came back, regretting their decision and hoping to find out where their dog was.
But the shelter staff refused to give them any information. They reminded the couple that they had asked for Hunter to be put to sleep themselves, in a rather indifferent manner, and now had no right to claim him back.
Upon hearing this, I experienced a whole whirlwind of emotions – anger, anxiety, but most importantly, determination. They had almost destroyed his life. In my mind, Hunter was already where he needed to be.
Daniel warned me that they might try to find out where the dog had gone. I was angry at first, then nervous, but days went by and nothing happened, so I decided not to dwell on it.
Life went on.
I have found that Hunter loves car rides. I have an old but reliable sedan, and there is plenty of room for him in the back seat. He likes to lie down by the window, exposing his face to the wind, and I’m sure he smiles at times like that.
Once during a walk in the reserve I stumbled on a tree root and almost fell. My knee was scraped and something prickled in my back. Before I knew it, Hunter was at my side. He sidled up to me, unmoving, until I stood up, leaning on him.
That moment reinforced my confidence that I had done the right thing by taking him.
Soon the neighbours began to notice how devoted Hunter was to me. One day my friend Marina came to visit. She was afraid of big dogs, but Hunter politely sat down next to me and waited patiently until she dared to pet him. An hour later Marina couldn’t get enough of how affectionate he was.
The real surprise happened at the veterinary clinic. In the waiting room I overheard a conversation about companion dogs for the elderly. One of the staff noticed how poised Hunter was and suggested I try to train him to work in hospitals and nursing homes.
I agreed. We started training and soon Hunter was visiting the local senior centre. There was a man there, Mr Rosario, who almost never spoke. But when he saw Hunter, a smile would light up his face and he would gently stroke his back, repeating softly:
Good boy…
Now, as Hunter sleeps at my feet, I think about how grateful I am for that phone call from Daniel.
My son jokes that I didn’t save Hunter, he saved me. Maybe he’s right.
Love is ageless, and good things come back in kind. That’s the thing about second tries – sometimes they are the best miracles.
So here’s my message to all of you: never underestimate your ability to love and care. You never know what happiness is waiting around the corner if you just open your heart – even if you think you’re ‘too old’ or ‘too busy’.
Sometimes the biggest changes come through the smallest acts of kindness.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story with Hunter. If it touched you, please give it a like and share it with your friends. Perhaps it is because of you that someone will decide to save a life and find a loyal friend in return.
