Story #11 of 60: Bradley Found His Way Home
As told by Dana Tenenbaum, Anderson Humane Volunteer
We were hosting an adoption event at Do It Best Hardware when a couple came in to meet a puppy named Bradley. I remembered them from a previous event where Santa had adopted a puppy at Grandview Realty. They spent nearly an hour with Bradley in the store, getting to know him, before leaving to talk things over.
Later that same day, the brother of one of the hardware store employees stopped by the event. He met Bradley and immediately connected with him. Before leaving, I heard him say, “I’ll see you later.” At the time, none of us realized what that meant.
About fifteen minutes before the event ended, the original couple returned and decided to adopt Bradley. We packed up, feeling happy that another puppy had found a home. Less than an hour later, Lesya called to let me know that Bradley had been returned to the shelter.
That was when everything came together. The man who had connected with Bradley earlier, Jake, had left the hardware store only to clean his house and gather the funds to adopt him. When Jake arrived at the shelter, he learned Bradley had already been adopted. Except now, Bradley was back.
Everyone jumped into action. Greg, Lesya, the hardware store manager, Dave, and I worked together to track Jake down and let him know that Bradley was available. When Jake got the message, he called immediately and turned around with his girlfriend to head straight to South Elgin.
That day ended with Bradley exactly where he belonged.
This experience stayed with me. Animals feel these transitions deeply, and watching so many people work together to make sure Bradley landed in the right place reminded me why these events matter so much. It was a joyful ending, made possible by teamwork, care, and a shared commitment to doing right by the animals we serve.
Moments like this are why I continue to volunteer. Sometimes it takes a community to help a story find its way.
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 becoming a Volunteer?
Visit ahconnects.org/volunteer/ for more information on how you can get involved.
