About a month ago, I read a plea on Facebook from my friend and fellow animal welfare professional Sue Bell, who was seeking help for a dog halfway around the globe in Kuwait City. Sue, who runs the animal rescue organization Homeward Trails in Northern Virginia and who travels extensively to other countries in order to help animals, was in Kuwait at the time, assisting a large number of dogs in great need of saving.
As I read the message providing details about one particular dog – Diamond – I was immediately moved to assure Sue, who was desperate to find a humane organization willing to take Diamond, that the Richmond SPCA would bring the precious dog into our care.
Many months earlier, Diamond had been hit by a car and was left for dead. To everyone’s amazement, this sweet, affectionate and gentle companion survived her injuries, but lost a rear leg and was paralyzed in the other, leaving her to drag herself through the sandy streets of Kuwait City. A Kuwaiti woman had been looking after Diamond, however, prospects for a lasting home capable of providing for Diamond’s special needs would be far improved in the United States.
It took several weeks to arrange for Diamond’s safe transport. Originally, she was scheduled to arrive into Dulles International Airport Saturday, however, devastating flooding in Kuwait City prevented Diamond and Sue, who was traveling with Diamond, from leaving. Thankfully, both Sue and Diamond were finally able to board a plane that arrived into Washington, D.C. last night.
This morning, Laura Palin, our manager of admissions, and I drove to Northern Virginia in order to pick up Diamond, who spent the night at the Homeward Trails’ adoption center. This lovable and resilient girl is now headed back with us to our humane center, where our staff and volunteers anxiously await her arrival.
We have much work ahead of us to prepare Diamond for adoption to a lasting home with a wonderful family, and with your generous support, Diamond will be guaranteed a full and healthy life. The loving arms of our organization are wrapped around Diamond, just as they are the 4,000 other homeless animals we save every year with your help.
Your gift today changes Diamond’s future, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.
Thankyou for saving another animal! So glad God made people who love animals!
Posted by: Emma E Athey | March 28, 2017 at 11:45 AM
I am happy that humanity still exist and people do care about homeless dogs. I really appreciated it. God Bless all of you.
Posted by: Emily Morgan | April 03, 2017 at 07:04 AM