Every dog’s greatest aspiration in life is a cozy home and a caring family. Regrettably, not every pooch is fortunate enough to be in that circumstance, which leads many of them to fend for themselves on the street or spend their days in a shelter.
Nevertheless, there are dogs that have spent an extended period in an unsuitable environment only to find themselves in a shelter afterward. This is precisely what occurred with one dog whose life was fraught with challenges, and it became even more challenging when he unexpectedly found himself behind kennel bars.
Fortunately, this dog was fortunate because he was swiftly discovered by a man who chose to give him all his affection. The significance of this can perhaps best be illustrated in their first photograph together.
Destined For Each Other
It was quite a challenge for Porter, a four-year-old Chocolate Labrador, when he arrived at the Animal Protective Foundation, a rescue organization situated in Glenville, New York. Moreover, his life leading up to that moment had not been easy at all despite having a home.
“He was a service dog for a woman who is currently unable to care for him,” James Hathaway informed Newsweek. “He would alert her to seizures and then safeguard her when they occurred.”
James Hathaway serves as the president of the Vermont and Northeast New York branches of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. At the time Porter ended up in the shelter, he was on the lookout for a dog, and upon seeing Porter, he instinctively recognized that he was the perfect match.
This was certainly no mere coincidence as James had been searching for a dog that resembled his recently-departed Chocolate Lab, Addie.
“I couldn’t believe my fortune to discover a chocolate like my beloved girl. I arrived at the shelter half an hour before they opened. He rushed to me wagging his tail, and I adopted him just minutes later,” James joyfully remarked.
The two took a photo together, and the overwhelming joy on their faces, particularly Porter’s, is unmistakable. They were undoubtedly meant for one another.
Everyone Was Thrilled
James affirmed that Porter is thriving in his new environment and has even taken on a new role, which he is executing successfully.
“He’s doing wonderfully, and since I am the CEO of two Make-A-Wish chapters, his new role will be going to work with me every day and greeting wish kids who are dreaming up their wishes just like my girl Addie did for nearly 10 years,” James shared.
James wanted to introduce his new delightful pup to others, so he posted their photo together on Reddit under the username u/MartianSlingshot, writing: “Porter is derping hard in our first pic together after I adopted him at the shelter.”
Reddit users were thrilled, and even James himself was astonished by how much attention this post drew. “I didn’t anticipate it would gain so much traction, but everywhere I go with Porter, he receives acclaim and affection, and he absolutely deserves it,” James concluded.
Meanwhile, we hope that this won’t be the end, but that this post will inspire others to visit their local shelters and capture more photographs with joyful and cheerful dogs moving to their new homes.