This is Twinkie’s story. Three years ago, David rescued Twinkie from a dog-fighting compound where she endured terrible abuse and was commonly used as a bait dog. He took in this battered little dog and nursed her back to health. He spent many hours soaking her wounds and applying medications and showing her lots of love. She overcame it all and became his lifeline and constant companion. I volunteer for Rugaz Rescue in Florida and we got a call from David asking for help finding a new home for his dog, Twinkie. But this was a different request for us as David was terminally ill but refused to go to Hospice until he found Twinkie a home. This loving dog was his only family, his everything. We searched for a new forever home for Twinkie, which did not take long. The time came and we went to David’s, to take Twinkie to her new home, and we met a gentle, loving and seasoned man that had taught Twinkie commands in Dutch. And Twinkie had a way of “talking” back, too. David told us of how this brave dog gave him hope as he nursed her back to health. It was heart wrenching to leave with Twinkie that night as she did not understand and did not want to leave the only person that had been kind to her. But, with all of us in tears, David said goodbye but said it gave him a sense of comfort knowing that his baby would now continue to be loved and taken care of. I visited David at Hospice until it was time for him to leave with his sister, back to Pennsylvania, his home. Twinkie’s new family says theirs is a “match made in heaven” and they love her so much!

Gina Shields
St Petersburg, FL