Simon

This is SIMON. Simon was born in a puppy mill and lived 'on the wire' most of his short 
life until his owner died and he was put up for sale by the owners aged father. He was one of seven dogs Hero's Waggin Train owner Victoria King bought through intermediaries. This is what happened to Simon once he was out of the puppymill.

JOY FARMER writes: "Years ago I fell in love with a picture of a hairless Chinese Crested in a dog book and never forgot it. I knew the breed was rare and probably costly, so I just added the idea of ownership to my list of other 'some day' things. Last year I joined an all breed dog lovers e-mail list. During my introduction, I mentioned my admiration of the breed. Within an hour, a list member wrote to me privately with Rescue contact info for a lady in Florida. I was shocked! I had no idea this delightful breed would ever need intervention.

I immediately e-mailed Victoria King, introduced myself and asked what criteria would make me eligible for her waiting list. After several mail exchanges, Victoria felt I matched the needs of a hairless male being fostered several states away. With fear and trembling, I asked her how much the adoption fee would be, and was delighted to
learn I would be able to meet it.

I wrote to the foster mom who told me about her experience with the dog and sent me pictures of him. I completed the adoption application and mailed personal references to Victoria, including one from my vet. She then arranged for me to be "home-checked" by a local contact who just happened to be a dog judge! I passed! But there was the problem of transport. Not to worry, Victoria assured me. She took care of that through her network of transport/rescuers, Hero's Waggin Train.

Within a very short time, Simon was delivered to me by a HWT member. That was one happy day, and each day since, Simon has brought happiness and pleasure to me and everyone who meets him.

A lot of effort, hard work, planning, expense, and sometimes heartache is put forth by people who do dog rescue. I hope that knowing the job they do brings such joy to others makes it worth their dedication.

People who spend their time, resources, and emotions locating dogs who need a different life do it for the best welfare of the dogs, but the by-product of their devotion is the happiness they bring to the people the animals are placed with. My hope is that those who locate and put up their money to rescue, spend their time to foster and care for, give of their time to make home visits, and go out of their way to let a strange dog share their travel, never stop doing what they do. These are the kind of people in their way contribute a lot to make the world a happier place.

Joy Farmer, Simon's new Mom