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A Labrador Retriever helps troubled girls
Sadie
is a happy, healthy and rambunctious one year-old yellow Labrador Retriever
living a dog's life at a loving home in Contra Costa County. She gleefully
romps through her house and yard, playing with her family. Sadly however,
her life wasn't always this happy.
At eight weeks of age, Sadie had already been through two tragically disappointing family households. Neither family had embraced the youthful exuberance a puppy can bring to a home. Her out-going nature was not appreciated in either situation and she was shuffled from house to house, never quite finding that special family that would relish the joy she could bring to their lives.
Deemed unacceptable and too spirited by both families, Sadie was eventually surrendered to Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). ARF's experienced Dog Trainer took Sadie into her own home for two months of evaluation. Long before the end of this two month period, ARF's Dog Trainer had confirmed what she had suspected all along - that Sadie was a perfectly normal and fun-loving Labrador Retriever, who just needed a little guidance and training.
Sadie was enrolled into ARF's Teaching Loving Care program (TLC), a groundbreaking program at the Chris Adams Center, where troubled girls give on-site dogs companionship and training, while learning important relationship skills for themselves. Sadie graduated with honors and was immediately adopted by a family that was searching for a new "best friend" for their household.
Although Sadie has gone from rags to riches, she has remembered her roots and routinely gives back to the community, by accompanying ARF All-Stars as ARF visits schoolchildren throughout Contra Costa as they focus on the joys and responsibilities of caring for an animal.
