Dozer arrived at Dogtown, part of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, when he was 12 years old. He was gentle and friendly, and he quickly became a favorite with staff and volunteers.
Still, the years went by, and Dozer was nearly 14 when his chance finally came.
A family he had already met
Daphne and Dave Lupfer, a couple from eastern Pennsylvania, had met Dozer while volunteering at the sanctuary. They never forgot him. When they came back, they decided to adopt him.
One big problem
There was a catch. Because of Dozer’s age and a liver condition, he could not travel by plane. His new home was more than halfway across the country. For a moment, it looked as if the distance might keep them apart.
The long road home
Volunteers stepped in. A team drove Dozer across the country, through winter weather, all the way to Pennsylvania. It was a long trip for an old dog, but he was not making it alone.
Dozer left the sanctuary in early December and arrived safely at his new home, where he now has a big backyard and his very first taste of Pennsylvania snow.
His story is a reminder that adopting a senior pet sometimes takes a little extra effort, and that plenty of people are willing to go the extra mile, sometimes thousands of them.
Thinking about adopting a senior pet?
Older dogs and cats are often calm, gentle and already house-trained. If you are curious whether a senior pet could fit your life, our Adopting an Older Pet guides are a good place to start.
Source: This story was originally reported by Best Friends Animal Society. We have retold it in our own words.
Images on this page are AI illustrations based on a true story. They do not show the real people or animals.
Leave a Reply