Once seen as a “broken dog,” Sanford’s life has taken a joyful turn, and he now can’t stop smiling.
According to Sanford’s foster mom, Karen Velazquez, he is the happiest dog she has ever encountered. In an interview with The Dodo, Velazquez shared, “I’m currently fostering my 52nd dog, and I’ve never met one as cheerful as Sanford.”
She added that he has a way of looking at her that’s unique, not even her own pets do the same. It’s only when he’s asleep or eating that his smile fades.
Before finding his way to Velazquez, Sanford was in dire need of assistance. He was rescued by animal control in April after being hit by a car and left immobile. During his rescue, they also discovered a bullet wound in his right hind leg.
Initially, Sanford was taken to a small city shelter in Dallas, Texas. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, the shelter couldn’t provide him with the medical care he needed during the week he stayed there.
While he was at the shelter, a volunteer from Dallas DogRRR noticed him and felt compelled to help.
Executive Director Kerry Anechiarico told The Dodo that when a volunteer approached him at the shelter, Sanford showed no signs of excitement or hope. It was as if he had accepted his fate.
The turning point for Sanford came when he was placed into foster care with Velazquez. “He arrived at my house on May 1, just a few days after leaving the hospital,” Velazquez recalled.
From that moment on, he’s been grinning non-stop. Sanford must have sensed that Velazquez’s home was a safe haven for him.
Now affectionately known as “Sanfee,” Sanford delights in eating home-cooked meals, enjoying daily walks, and playing with the other dogs.
Despite being ten years old, Sanford displays an energy that contradicts his age. Anechiarico observed, “For a ten-year-old, he’s pretty average. He reminds me of an elderly person in a nursing home who still acts youthful.”
While Sanford is content in his foster home, the hope is to find him a permanent one. “He would make a great family pet,” Anechiarico said. “He’s great with kids, other dogs, and people alike.”
Anechiarico describes Sanford as “the ideal companion dog to welcome you home with tail wags before spending the day by your side.” Now a happy dog, his infectious joy is something any future family would treasure.
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