A Second, Second Chance for Tom
Tom's first adoption didn't work out, but that's simply because fate had better plans. Here is his story.
I saw Tom on the BARCS website and instantly fell in love with his sweet and gentle face. When I showed my family the photo, however, all of them were leery of his pit bull-type features. I heard everything from: “You hear stories about those dogs” to “You have little kids, don’t be irresponsible.” But still, I kept seeing his worried and docile face in my mind and I decided to call and inquire about him.
The BARCS team let me know that he’d just been adopted. My heart sunk and I cried because there was just something about his picture that made me feel like adopting him was our destiny—and like he was already ours. We continued to look for a dog to add to our family, but nothing quite spoke to me like that photo of Tom. Sometime later, I decided to look back on BARCS’ website again to see if another dog would catch my eye. I don’t know what made me look on that specific day, but there was Tom looking back at me with that sweet, gentle face. His description was clear; he was “returned at no fault of his own." All I could think was that I had to leave my house immediately, I couldn't miss my chance this time!
When I arrived at BARCS, I let the team know I was there to meet “Racket” (his shelter name). Meeting this pup was truly love at first sight, he ran right to me and jumped in my lap, kissing me as no other dog had done before. I knew he was the one. He picked me at that moment. It wasn’t just me who had been waiting for him—I believe he had been waiting for me too.
The paperwork was finalized that same day, and when it was time to go home, I put a fluorescent green collar on him. I remember how proud he acted walking out of the shelter with that collar on, and I couldn't help but smile thinking how something so simple made him feel so special. The whole way home he sat up looking out the windows at everything with his paw directly on my hand. When we got home, my daughter’s eyes lit up and she ran to him saying, “We will call you Tom. You’re home now.”
To this day, Tom loves to wear collars. He doesn't like to take it off and gets anxious when we do. We believe he associates the collar with that moment when he walked out of the shelter and never looked back. His collar means “home,” it means he belongs to a family, it means he belongs to us.
Tom is gentle and kind. He even won over the family that was so “worried” about him. Due to a horrible car accident in 2009, I suffer from terrible PTSD and anxiety attacks; Tom senses them and will sit next to me before I even know I'm getting ready to have an episode.
Tom has also inspired our young daughter (pictured above) to take a keen interest in animal rescue. Since bringing Tom home, she has visited the shelter, collected donations and done many projects to help save more animals at BARCS. Our family favorite has been collecting special holiday collars for the dogs at the shelter so that they too can associate their collars with "home" as Tom does.
Tom started out life tied to a chain in a dirt field yard with his brother. He was underweight, covered in scars, and didn’t know unconditional love. He now lives with our family who adores and cherishes him. I cannot imagine my life without him. I am grateful each day for this amazing dog who changed our life for the better.
Our family asks that this holiday season, everyone remembers the animals in the shelter and offers support in whatever way they can. Adopters, fosters and donations are critically needed and will help BARCS save lives.
Thank You So Much,
Regina W. & Family
Tom's Final and Forever Humans
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