Family Comes Forward To Claim Heroic Dog
Shelley Mamott, Staff Writer
The owners of a heroic Labrador have come forward late Monday to claim the dog, just hours before she was going to be adopted by her new family.
Grace, as she was known by animal control officials, and Maggie to her family, was found Wednesday guarding and refusing to leave the side of her canine companion lying on a busy road in La Puente, Calif.
A good Samaritan at the scene placed traffic cones around the dogs to keep Maggie safe from traffic and animal control officers later took her to the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center.
Dozens of people called or came by the Animal Care Center offering to adopt the sweet dog. The good Samaritan was the first to fill out the paperwork, and was slated to adopt her.
Lt. Maria Rosales of the Department of Animal Care and Control said the apparent owner had a picture of Maggie and knew of identifying marks on her body “that only the owner would know.”
Maggie also responded positively. “As soon as she heard the person that claimed to be the owner’s voice, she lit up and she started wagging her tail,” Rosales said.
Maggie was spayed Monday and was recovering from the surgery but officials said the dog will not be released until a home inspection is done.
Rosales said that Grace was in heat, a possible reason for why she ran away. “Apparently as they were coming back from an errand… she got out through the garage door,” Rosales said.
The good Samaritan who was hoping to adopt Grace was contacted, Capt. Aaron Reyes, deputy director of the department said, and his reaction was “understandably bittersweet.”
Reyes is hoping that some of those that were inspired to adopt Maggie might consider leaving with another dog, cat or rabbit.
