Life is suffering, so says the Buddha. And this extends beyond humans, including koalas, cats, snakes, and even dogs. Holden’s dog-journey is riddled with suffering.
Holden was taken by the police and given to a kill shelter. When Melissa found Holden, he was malnourished. Physically, he was in terrible shape, featuring a giant, seven-pound tumor on his torso, attached to his spleen, making it hard for him to even breathe properly. The future looked bleak, to say the least.
He was taken to a premiere surgeon, who originally conceded that Holden may not make it through the surgery due to his physical problems. The surgeon was able to remove his spleen and the tumor, which was found to be benign, thankfully. Surprisingly, there were no complications, and Holden’s spirits and physical abilities improved almost instantly.
Holden found a temporary home at Melissa’s, where he was surrounded by a plethora of new friends and loving dogs. In fact, Melissa had already fostered upwards of 500 dogs in her life, making an ideal foster parent.
Holden gets along beautifully with Melissa’s three-year-old daughter and her husband, as well. In fact, almost everywhere he went was easy. He has a wonderful temperament and is not prone to hostility or confrontation. He even gets along with the family cat, despite not being raised around one.
Soon enough, time came to find Holden a new home. Melissa felt it necessary to find a loving, worthy parent for the dog, somebody that could give him the attention he needs and deserves.
Within a short amount of time, Carole came to the rescue. She recalls paying attention to his story and journey, admitting to already being a huge fan prior to even meeting him. The two dog-loving parties arranged a meeting, and Holden was then taken to see his potential new family.
Before meeting Holden, Carole states, “I’m really excited and anxious. It’s like Christmas morning.”
Carole seems like a wonderful, loving person. She owns a lab mix named Elway, a beautiful, black pooch. Upon entering the house, Elway scopes out Holden, sniffing and probing without being too forceful. The two immediately seem to get along. Shortly thereafter, Carole shows Holden his new bed. He then makes himself at home, settling in with no regrets. Elway doesn’t seem to mind the new company at all.
Holden’s had a rather tough, unique journey. Fortunately, he ends up in the hands of a loving parent, Carole, with a loving new friend in Elway. Originally abandoned, Holden’s now in a situation where he can flourish.
Life is suffering says the Buddha, but that doesn’t mean happiness can’t be found. The love and care of others can change even the most grim scenarios into something especially beautiful.
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