Story #60: Courage in Four Paws
As told by Stevie Lofton, Adopter
Mother’s Day weekend in 2023 was hard.
I was missing Coyote, my first Dutch Shepherd, who had passed away not long before. I asked for a sign, something to guide me to another Dutchie, purebred or mix.
Later that day, a photo on Anderson Humane’s website caught my eye.
Pepper.
She had Coyote’s markings, the same age he had been when I first fostered him, and her shelter photo looked eerily like his. Did I mention Coyote’s shelter name had been Peppercorn?
I drove out to South Elgin that Sunday to meet her.
The meeting did not go as planned.
Pepper had resource-guarding issues in her previous home, so the shelter was cautious about placing her with other dogs.
I kept checking on her availability, sharing what I had learned from Coyote and how I had helped him navigate similar challenges.
With guidance from the Anderson Behavior Team, I fostered Pepper in August 2023.
One month later, she came home with me for good and got a new name, Sarge.
At first, Sarge was cautious.
Strange sounds, new people, even shadows on walls, startled her. She would not go outside at first, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear.
She had to see what the other dogs were doing.
In a couple of days, she followed them everywhere, as if missing the action was not an option. She looked to them for guidance, just like Coyote had, and my consistency and calmness anchored her.
Medication, training, enrichment, and exercise helped her find her balance.
Sarge has come so far.
She handled our move from Chicago in 2024 without a hitch.
She adjusts to the size and temperament of other pets, from my 19-year-old cat to a senior canine boarder with limited mobility.
She even showed her newest brother, Whistler, the ropes when he joined our family a little over a year ago.
Sarge is athletic, confident, dramatic, social, brave, smart, and snuggly, and she has a way of putting other pets at ease while filling our home with energy and joy.
Fetch, splash pads, hikes, crowded trails, secluded spots… she loves them all.
Every greeting she gives me tells me one thing: She is just as over the moon for me as I am for her.
Sarge is living proof that love, patience, and second chances can completely transform a life.
Ready to start your own rescue story?
Meet adoptable animals at Anderson Humane by visiting ahconnects.org/adopt, or help make the next 60 stories possible by donating in honor of our 60th Anniversary.
Interested in starting your own Foster Journey?
Visit us at ahconnects.org/foster-2/ for more information or email fosters@ahconnects.org
