Happy Endings - Odie

I am writing to update PROS on Odie (given name Otis). We adopted him in January 2001 and brought him to our home by the ocean in Santa Cruz. He joined our cat Sam, and now has another feline housemate named Corona. When Odie first came to us he was on a special "sensitive stomach" diet, had skin allergies, and some kind of infection in his ears. I'm pleased to say that all have cleared up! He is a healthy 20 pounds, eats like a champ, and fits in to the family like no other dog any of us can remember. He has charmed everyone from children to vets/vet techs, even one of my family members who is a confirmed non-pet person and particularly dislikes dogs!

Perhaps the most valuable thing he has done for us, and the main reason I am writing you with an update, occured over the past year. In October 2001, my husband and his National Guard unit deployed to Arizona in support of Operation Noble Eagle. I stayed home in Santa Cruz alone. It was a struggle to get through each day with my husband gone so far away. Odie seemed to know how I was feeling. He was always there for me when things got really tough. He was waiting for me at the door every evening after work. He made me stop crying and laugh at his antics more times than I can count. He warned me of strangers approaching our house. Perhaps most importantly, he slept close to me every night and gave me great comfort during a difficult time in my life.

We tell everyone who asks where we got him how wonderful PROS is. We are grateful everyday that he is in our lives. Thank you for the tremendous, important work that you do.

David & Joanna Reed

Addendum: I should mention that my husband did come home from deployment on Labor Day weekend this past September. Next to me, there is no one happier to see him than the dog. The pack is finally back together and Odie's joy is evident every night when he sleeps in the middle of the bed, heaves an enormous sigh of contentment, and falls asleep snoring loudly while holding his stuffed octopus in his mouth :)