AMADEUS aka SMOKEY

I sat and thought about how to write this Happy Tail, then I realized it wrote itself.  Grab your tissues this story is a tearjerker.  Don’t worry they all live happily ever after.

AMADEUS aka SMOKEY

I have PTSD, from 30 years in Law enforcement. In 2019, I started working for a power sports company. In the time I worked there, the owners dog took a liking to me, and eventually the dog was given to me. I realized quickly that she had a special attachment to me, and the feeling was definitely mutual. She knew when my PTSD was acting up, and she would actually get in the way of the PTSD, just the feeling of her coming up to me, looking at me like she understood, made a difference. In my darkest place, she could bring sunlight, she stayed with me night and day. I had her for almost 2 and a half years. In mid-June, of 2022, I was offered and accepted a new job at a different Powers Sports company in Columbia. When I turned in my 2 week notice, the owner of the company, took the dog back, saying I had misunderstood what he said, my whole world came crashing down on me. I was an emotional wreck.  In early August, with tremendous pain in my heart I gave the dog back.  I literally cried for 7 days, and it only got worse.

On August 26th my wife made a command decision. She told me to get in the car and she took me to the KC Humane society. We looked for quite a while, going thru the kennels, and then, in the last row of kennels, in the corner, in a portable kennel, sat this beautiful puppy.  At that moment, it wasn't me picking my new companion. It was him. He picked me. His little face, his almond eyes, his little ears...he was saying, if you give me a chance, I will be there for you...and he has been. From the moment I saw him, to right now, just thinking about him, he makes me smile on the inside. He has changed my life. I also understand he had a horrible beginning. I understand he was abused and basically starved. He has a big brother, Takota and a half-sister, Bailey.  We changed his name from Smokey to Amadeus, or 'Deus for short, however his nick name is Baby Boogs, because his big brother’s nick name is Big Giant Wooly Boogers, or Boogs for short. He is also known as Puppy, but whatever name he goes by, on that day, he is a gift from a higher authority. I thank God for him. He is my comfort and is being trained for that certification.

I am enclosing several pictures of him. One thing about a puppy or dog, they are the most loyal friend that you will ever have. I know this is long, you will cut it down for the happy tails. I just wanted to let you know how he has seriously brought something back to me. I have found that it is impossible to describe my PTSD to another person, but Puppy, he already knows, because he also has PTSD from his early life, so we both understand together how each of us feels. How can a person abuse an animal, much less a little guy like him? There is a special place for individuals like that. Amadeus, Baby Boogs, Puppy... He is such a good soul.

Your Kershaw County Humane Society wants you to know…

“You can’t change a dog’s past.  But you can rewrite its future.”