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stray dog saves boys life

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eddiesmommy
best buds!

Member since 5/09

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Melissa

stray dog saves boys life

did you read this.....made me teary, such a sweet story.




Lost and Found Dog Saves Life of Boy with Down Syndrome

Do you believe in canine guardian angels and the kindness of strangers? You just might after reading this story.

Early one morning, Yolanda Segovia's neighbor, Stacey Savige, knocked on her door and asked her to temporarily take in a stray dog she had found. The scruffy terrier mix had no collar or microchip. Segovia eyed the pooch -- burrs sticking to his belly and mud caking his fur -- and reluctantly agreed to foster him for the day.

An erstwhile hairdresser, Segovia hasn't worked since 2006. At 47, she is a survivor of breast cancer and cervical cancer. A divorced single mother of two, Segovia shares her Port Tampa, Florida home with her 10 year-old son Azaiah and 21 year-old son Christian. Her elder son has Down Syndrome; he cannot speak or bathe himself, and he has had heart surgery and a kidney transplant, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Azaiah immediately took to the dog, whom he named RaeLee (pronounced "Riley"). Segovia and her sons bought the dog a collar, leash, ball and brown bed from the dollar store, and all that day, Azaiah played with the dog, laughing gleefully whenever RaeLee licked his face. "Don't fall in love with him," Segovia warned.

Segovia and Savige made 4,000 FOUND flyers with the dog's picture, stuffed mailboxes and put an ad on Craigslist. When no one called, RaeLee stayed the night at the Segovias' house. His dog bed was placed in the living room, but when the boys climbed into their twin beds, RaeLee dragged his bed down the long hallway and bunked with the boys in their room.

By Saturday -- four days later -- no one had called to claim RaeLee, and he was still living with the Segovias. The honey-colored terrier had started responding to his new name. He almost never barked, loved playing rambunctiously with Azaiah, and was tender with Christian.

One afternoon, the dog settled himself on the floor near Christian as he watched a "Barney" video in his room. Segovia was outside watering the plants when the placid moment was shattered by the sound of RaeLee crashing into the screen door and barking crazily. Alarmed, Segovia opened the door, only to have the dog race back through the house towards the boys' room. Segovia followed, screaming when she caught sight of her son. Christian was "slumped over, his body writhing in a seizure, blood streaming from his nose and mouth." RaeLee stood next to him yelping, but suddenly went quiet when Yolanda reached down to hold her son.

"If he hadn't come to get me," Segovia said, "the neurologist said Christian would have choked on his own blood and died." The dog, she decided, was a keeper.

But the next day, Segovia and her sons were heartbroken when someone called to claim the dog they had come to love. Randy Cliff, 34, who lived six blocks away said he had been searching for his dog -- real name Odie -- for over a week. Odie had lived with Cliff, his wife, their four children and infant granddaughter. Savige cried, telling Cliff, "That dog saved my friend's son."

When Cliff came to collect his dog, RaeLee a.k.a. Odie, leapt off the Segovias' porch and into his arms. Christian watched from a window. Azaiah stood on the porch watching the man hug the dog he knew as RaeLee. "We're going to miss you," he said, tearfully.

Looking up, Cliff took in the scene -- Christian looking scared, Azaiah looking downtrodden -- and asked, "Is that your brother?" Azaiah nodded yes.

With a sudden change of heart, Cliff put the dog back down. "Maybe Odie was supposed to find you," Cliff told a stunned and delighted Azaiah. "Maybe you should keep him."

And that is how the kindness of strangers -- Savige for rescuing a lost dog, Segovia for taking him in, and Cliff for giving up his pet to a pair of brothers who needed the dog more -- brought RaeLee to live with Azaiah, Christian and their mother.

link to story

Message edited 8/12/2009 12:22:57 PM.

Posted 8/12/09 12:22 PM
 
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JennZ
MY LIFE!!

Member since 8/05

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Re: stray dog saves boys life

great story!

Posted 8/12/09 12:25 PM
 

lulugrrl
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Member since 3/06

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L

Re: stray dog saves boys life

awwww...fate

Posted 8/12/09 1:20 PM
 

MsSissy
xoxoxo

Member since 3/07

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Re: stray dog saves boys life

Chat Icon Chat Icon great story!
Oh my gosh...he's adorable
External Image Chat Icon

Message edited 8/12/2009 1:29:50 PM.

Posted 8/12/09 1:28 PM
 

Stacey1403
Where it all began....

Member since 5/05

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Re: stray dog saves boys life

If that's not fate I don't know what is.
Thanks for sharingChat Icon

Posted 8/12/09 1:53 PM
 

sfp0701
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Member since 1/07

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Tricia

Re: stray dog saves boys life

What a beautiful story!

Posted 8/12/09 2:05 PM
 

MrsS2005
Mom of 3

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B

Re: stray dog saves boys life

What a great story.

Posted 8/12/09 2:08 PM
 

lvdolphins
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Re: stray dog saves boys life

Chat Icon Chat Icon great story

Posted 8/12/09 2:20 PM
 

Faithx2
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Re: stray dog saves boys life

Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 8/12/09 2:21 PM
 

ReiRei13
Life is Good!!

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Re: stray dog saves boys life

What a great story! I needed that today!Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 8/12/09 3:41 PM
 

Nicole622
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Nicole

Re: stray dog saves boys life

great story!!!Chat Icon

Posted 8/12/09 7:44 PM
 

LoveyQ
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Re: stray dog saves boys life

What an amazing and wonderful story!!! Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon And he's so cute!

Posted 8/12/09 7:56 PM
 

headoverheels
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Member since 6/07

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LB

Re: stray dog saves boys life

i am totally Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon over this story. amazing!!

Posted 8/12/09 8:12 PM
 

JChia
Mom of 2 Princesses

Member since 9/07

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Jen

Re: stray dog saves boys life

crying reading this....

Posted 8/12/09 10:06 PM
 

mirla122
Hot! Hot! Hot!

Member since 1/06

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Mirla

Re: stray dog saves boys life

omg that is one adorable story. Chat Icon

Posted 8/13/09 10:03 AM
 

KellyDance
Merry Christmas!

Member since 6/07

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Kelly

Re: stray dog saves boys life

What a great story...thanks for posting!

Posted 8/13/09 10:20 AM
 

XcalystaX
Sooo Sleep Deprived....

Member since 7/06

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S

Re: stray dog saves boys life

Beautiful story ....I am completely teary-eyed.Chat Icon

Posted 8/13/09 10:28 AM
 

eddiesmommy
best buds!

Member since 5/09

11524 total posts

Name:
Melissa

Re: stray dog saves boys life

i just loved it, you always hear so many heartbreaking stories when it comes to children it was nice to hear something amazing that had a happy ending.

Posted 8/13/09 10:41 AM
 

LuckySV
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Re: stray dog saves boys life

Posted by XcalystaX

Beautiful story ....I am completely teary-eyed.Chat Icon



me, too. Chat Icon Gosh, I am so emotional lately. What is my problem

Posted 8/13/09 10:50 AM
 

GreenGirl05
LIF Adolescent

Member since 1/06

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J

Re: stray dog saves boys life

WOW!! wonderful story!!! thanks for posting! Chat Icon

Posted 8/13/09 10:54 AM
 

LoveBeingMrsT
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Member since 12/05

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Re: stray dog saves boys life

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Posted 8/13/09 11:15 AM
 
 

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