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A special love story

4 min read
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SPECIAL TO THE NEIGHBOR David Smith, Annalisa Newman, Elly Newman and Sammy the puppy meet at “Meet Your Match” event.
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Debbie Smith found her perfect match with ARC’s Suede.

When you think about upcoming Valentine’s Day, you may ponder the different loves of your life.

Betty Hughes, board treasurer for North Fort Myers-based Animal Refugee Center said staff members were recently touched by one special love story.

The organization, which houses about 400 cats and dogs, works with many adoption events to try to get abandoned animals placed. While there are big annual and quarterly events, there is always an adoption outreach at the PETCO in Fort Myers on Dynasty Drive in the Forum Shopping Center. Seven days a week, there are kitten adoptions, and dogs are there the first and third Saturday of every month.

“We were at an event at PETCO when we met a special woman named Debbie Smith. She’s a 50-year-old who has lived with Down syndrome, and had outlived her parents.” Hughes said she had been at different foster homes and supported living facilities, and had a new caring family.

ARC personnel learned that Smith had always had three dreams: “She had these three life goals – to go to Graceland – she’s a huge Elvis fan – to visit Disneyland and get a dog.”

Hughes said Smith had “found a home with where caring people who decided to do something about her dreams.”

Meanwhile, a special ARC dog named Suede was back at ARC Headquarters. He was usually taken along as an “ambassador” to the events, but that particular day he was at the facility. ARC personnel immediately thought Suede would make the perfect “love connection” with Smith. “He’s eager to please, loyal, he’s what makes a dog a dog. We thought they would be the perfect match.”

Hughes said it was “love at first sight” when Smith met Suede. And a little bit of fate. “She loves Elvis, who made the song ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ immortal, and ‘Suede’ was the name of her new dog.”

Hughes said Suede took to the family immediately, but he’s “smitten” with Smith.

“When we saw the interaction between her and the dog, it really confirmed how rewarding pet adoptions are,” said Hughes.

Meet your next great love

Earlier this month, ARC held a “Meet Your Match” adoption event to try to get many abandoned animals placed by Valentines Day.

“On Jan. 24, we had an event at ARC, we had over 100 people at Meet Your Match. We had Lee County Sheriff’s Department VOICE and Explorers Program representatives, and they directed traffic for hundreds of visitors. We placed 11 animals in homes, which is good for us. The minute we have an adoption, we intake another. That’s why these events are so critical for pets.”

If you missed it, you can still You can still “meet your next great love” there, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“We just got in nine 6-week old puppies who are unbelievable,” said Hughes. “Unfortunately, one is in intense care right now, but the rest look good and will soon be available for adoption”” They are now taking pre-adoption applications at the center on these little bundles of joy. “We also have over 400 animals at ACR for adoption, we always operate at full capacity.”

There’s another new addition, appropriately named Valentina in honor of Valentine’s Day, that is currently undergoing medical treatment, recuperating for spinal cord damage. She won’t be ready for adoption for awhile, but she’s now in a loving foster home – the Hughes household.

You can visit ARC seven days a week. Adoption hours are 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. to find your next great love.

Volunteers are always needed as well. You can apply at animal-refuge. com.

The Animal Refuge Center is located behind the Lee Civic Center at 18011 Old Bayshore Rd. Call 731-3535 for information.