My eyes locked on Duke and I had to go meet him and learn about his story. Then I met Misty, a sweet little girl laying in her bed on the booth table! I met this wonderful couple who told me about their mission with Pets With Disabilities. It took all of a few minutes before I asked if they needed volunteers or foster homes. Joyce advised that I go home and search their website to see if there were any dogs I could handle in a foster situation, then e-mail the address on the site with my information.

I went home, walked through the door, gave my dogs Bogey and Bear some love then booted up the computer! As I read each animal’s scenario, tears filled my eyes. I was so inspired by their will to survive given the abuse and/ or injury they sustained and by the people who see value in them and make their fight possible. I want to stay in bed on a bad hair day, these animals live life to the fullest no matter what their plight is!

I clicked on an e-mail address and sent my contact information for the dogs that had needs my home, time and furry family members could meet. Three e-mails came back almost immediately stating they had found their adoptive homes. About an hour later, my phone rang. A nice woman named Barbara called and told me all about Big Bear’s past of abuse, how he came to her and what his disabilities were. I told her about myself, my pets, the animal rescue work I do and about how meeting Duke that morning prompted me to do this. I told her I could handle him and told her to send me the application. I could handle this foster without any problems! Barbara called back later that night and said she was comfortable with sending Big Bear to me. I asked where she was located so we could discuss when I could pick him up. It was at that point I knew fate had played a funny game on me!

Barbara was calling from B.O.N.E.S., Better Options for Neglected Strays, an animal reservation for strays and abused/neglected animals in California. The e-mail address under Big Bear’s picture and story was Barbara’s, not Joyce’s. I had also submitted an adoption application, not a foster application. Sure, I was mistaken the entire time but please believe there were no mistakes in what happened. I explained to Barbara what happened but that I had a place in my family and home and enough love to give to her Big Bear. It was as simple as that, an unplanned meeting at a Pet Expo, an e-mail addressed to someone other than I intended to write, and a coast to coast telephone discussion with a woman who told me about a dog I had never met. Not to mention, my one dog’s name is Bear. Fate!

Given my recent enlightenment about the situation, Barbara told me to take the night to think about it and get back to her. My mind was buzzing about why I should and why I shouldn’t adopt this dog. I came up with a million reasons why I should, and the only problem I could think of was that Big Bear would have to get used to a new name since I had a little Bear already. I called Barbara that night and told her I didn’t need any more time to think about it, I wanted him. She told me she was so happy to make the connection and that she had waited for this day to come for Big Bear as he had been at the reservation for two and a half years. It was both very emotional and exciting for me.

The next morning I decided to ‘drop in’ on Joyce at her booth at the Pet Expo and "catch up." I refreshed her memory of who I was from the day before then announced the pending adoption. Her facial expression was classic. She asked me to confirm that I met her the day before, went home and searched her site that night and was there to tell her a day later that I had adopted a pet? She gave me a huge hug and congratulated me. From that point on I have been in touch with Joyce keeping her informed of Big Bear’s journey from California to New Jersey and on how he has been doing since he arrived in March.

I have a beautiful, loving, thankful, soulful creature that I have the privilege of loving and caring for. I am thankful for what this adoption has taught me. That given the chance and some love, animals will return their appreciation and love in bounds and that there are wonderful, tender, caring people who see the value in animals that others would simply discard. See, my boy cannot be as thankful to have me as I am for having him. Big Bear’s name is now Mikko, it means "gift from God".

Mikko spends his days demanding full belly rubs and forehead kisses. He has a big comfy bed, a wardrobe of snazzy collars/leashes/bandanas, a plethora of treats to snack on and enjoys chewing bones next to his brothers, Bear and Bogey. I do have one problem with Mikko. No matter how many times I explain to him that he is a suburbanite dog who goes to the groomer now and not a yard dog anymore he insists on laying in the dirt rain or shine! Amongst the nice thick green grass there are a few patches of dirt … he rolls in it every time!

I have so much respect for Joyce and Barbara, their work is so very important. In addition to having Mikko in my life, I am happy to have met and know Joyce and Barbara. They are inspirations to me.

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