Editor’s Note: Today’s column may be new to some readers, or fondly remembered by others. It has been three years since we first ran this story about Soldier, a golden brown and white Pit-Mastiff. Lennie wanted readers to have the background on Soldier and his family before next week’s column, which will provide an update. 

April 26, 2013

Nothing frustrates me more than when a beautiful, viable and loving dog that has proven itself in every way, has trouble finding a home.

Staked to the ground for a whole year and so full of mange you couldn’t find a speck of hair on him. Rescued and brought to Landrum vet, it took seven long months to eradicate all the mange mites and heal all infections. What emerged was this magnificent Pit-Mastiff who was confused with life and trusted only his handlers.

It was time for Soldier and I to have a talk, so after the second day of working with him I went into his cage and sat down. Soldier took his treats but sort of kept his distance. “Listen big fella, I know you’ve had a raw deal and have been around some pretty stupid humans, but we’re not all like that.”

Soldier inched closer and listened as I went on. “I’m going to make you a promise that I’ve made countless times before.”

“What is that, Uncle Lennie?” Soldier asked.

“If you learn to trust again and treat people with the love I know you have in you, I promise you’ll never be hurt again and I’ll do all in my power to find you a forever home.”

Soldier came over and put his head in my lap. “That’s the dog I want to be Uncle Lennie.”

I wrapped my arms around him and wept.

True to his word I can attest that in the nearly four months since that encounter no one has heard neither a single bark of anger nor an ounce of aggression toward any living thing. On the contrary, Soldier is friendly and loving to everyone.

For the past three and a half months he has been at Dogwood Farms where Josh and Astrid have been helping to find him a forever home. Though Josh and Astrid are more than fair to me, his board and care still must be paid for but it was worth it to see him run and interact with so many other dogs. Soldier began to think that Dogwood Farms was his forever home and lamented going back into his kennel instead of into the house with their dogs, Belue and Kara, along with the family.

I have had him back at Landrum Vet this past week and have taken him out to introduce him to people as much as possible. I haven’t met a single person who has met him that hasn’t fallen instantly in love. His friendly and loving demeanor is infectious and when this beautiful boy looks at you with the most expressionable eyes I’ve seen, you can’t help but melt.

I’m well aware that there are so many others out there like Soldier but I promise you that this boy is super special; ask anyone who’s met him.

I love sweet Soldier with everything I have and I’ve kept my promise as has he but I’ve run out of options and places to turn.

I have turned to the Lord in prayer and now I turn to all of you. If you or anyone you know are interested in the companion of a lifetime, please contact me or anyone else who knows him and I’ll make that happen.

I think of Soldier as nothing but a great big heart looking for a body to house it. And Lord knows, “a heart is a terrible thing to waste.”

Thanks for listening.

May 17, 2013

On Saturday, May 4, I took a trip to Petco on Rt. 40 just outside of Asheville. It turned out to be one of the most joyful days I’ve had in a long time.

It began a few days earlier when Dr. Donna Raines informed me that Patti Peake and Chris Humes, two fellow rescuers, were taking my Soldier up to the adopt-a-thon along with some of their dogs.

“Would I like to join them?” I was in the midst of many cases, but Soldier was my No. 1 priority; wild horses couldn’t keep me from joining my good friends on this endeavor. I called Josh at Dogwood Farms informing him that Soldier would not be staying this weekend.

Come Saturday, Donna, her boyfriend, Elwood, and I were not scheduled to leave until 1 p.m. It was a bit rainy, but I got to take Soldier for a little walk before visiting my friends Jeb and Jeanette, who were putting on a little yard sale for my kids. They gave me a beautiful British Hound’s-tooth coat for Soldier to wear. Soldier had earned the love and admiration of so many people. I probably had half the town praying for him.

Before loading him in Elwood’s truck, we put his new coat on and he looked handsome enough to take on the world. Patti and Chris had left earlier with their dogs and to set up.  We arrived around 2 p.m. and the adopt-a-thon was in full swing with hundreds of beautiful dogs and their rescuers. Chris and Patti had adopted two of their rescues and I got to see Pumpkin again, who I had helped earlier. It is such a thrilling experience to be among so many like-minded people and the animals they’ve rescued. Though there is a personal commitment to the dogs each person brings, a collective joy is felt each time another animal is adopted.

Into the group I walked with Soldier on a leash and though I honestly admired so many animals, I was confident I had the most magnificent at my side. We stopped and greeted often and Soldier was the perfect gentleman with every other dog and person. It may sound a bit prejudiced, but it seemed to me that everyone wanted to meet my beautiful boy.

All of a sudden Diana and Nicholas walked up with a puppy in their arms and little Lillian at their side. Diana began petting Soldier as she asked questions about him.  Soldier was enjoying the attention but his eyes never left little Lilly.

“What’s his name?” Lily asked me.

“It’s Soldier sweetheart, and he loves little girls,” I answered, handing her some treats.

“Sit, Soldier,” Lilly commanded. Soldier sat for her, but something unusual was going on. He was looking directly at Lilly and not at the treat. He took the treat and Lilly began to pet him but not tentatively as a child meeting a strange big dog would do; Lilly caressed him like an adult who knew and loved him would.

She handed him another treat and asked, “Can I kiss him?”

A tear I didn’t even know was there escaped and landed on my chest. Everything seemed to go into slow motion. I felt as if I was apart from it all watching a movie scene where the spotlight was on Lilly and Soldier and all other activity was in another dimension.

I turned to Nicholas, who was holding the puppy and said, “I think I just witnessed a lifetime bonding.” Nicholas, who seemed just as moved as I was, nodded and said, “Can we take him home today?”

Soldier has been in his new home for a few weeks now and he has plenty of area to run.  Though he is curious, he maintains his live-and-let-live attitude with all other critters, except for two. Soldier has become big brother to Marleigh the Chihuahua, and Little Man, the Chilini (Chihuahua-Dachshund mix).

The evening after Soldier was adopted I went to my church and hit my knees in a prayer of gratitude for Soldier had weighed heavily on me.

“Thank you Lord, I know Soldier is exactly where he was meant to be, but I wish you’d let me in on it. My heart isn’t as strong as it used to be, Lord, and I’m sure you know, sometimes I begin to lose faith.”

I can imagine the good Lord shaking his head at me after all the prayers he’s answered for my kids and me, but I’m only human.

At the end of my conversation with Diana, she said, “Lennie, thank you so much for all you’ve done for Soldier and thanks for bringing him to us. We feel that he is a gift from heaven.”

Thanks for listening.