MORGAN EDELMAN Staff writer

This is the sixth of a series of eight articles about shelter dogs that have been adopted and found their forever home as told through their eyes. This series is part of a senior capstone project that is meant to raise awareness of the importance of pet adoption.

My name is Beau and I am a 4-year-old Lab mix. When I was about three-years-old my family brought me to a vet’s office where they left me tied to a pole. I sat there all night waiting for them to come back for me.

I started to get scared and just wanted to be back home with my family, so I tried to break free, but I was unable to. The next morning the humans that work at the vet’s office showed up and found me tied up to a bent pole from me pulling so hard trying to escape.

The humans brought me inside so the vet could check my health. After the tests came back they found out I was heartworm positive. The humans said they think my old family left me there because my treatments for the heartworm were going to be very expensive and my family couldn’t afford it.

The vet that was taking care of me called Atlanta Lab Rescue and told them my story and how I was a really nice dog, so they decided to take me in as a rescue and pay for all of my heartworm treatments. It wasn’t long after I was put up for adoption that my new mom saw me and instantly knew she had to have me.

As soon as I moved in with my mom, I made myself feel very comfortable. I have been living with her for about eight months now, and I couldn’t be happier. My mom and I recently found out that I am now heartworm negative after months of treatments and we are so excited. I am a huge lapdog that loves to cuddle and constantly be loved on.

My favorite things to do now are go on hikes and eat doggy ice cream. Since I have lived with my mom, I have taught her the true meaning of responsibility and loyalty. My mom and I have a special bond that will never be replaced. It sometimes makes me sad that my old family left me so easily, but I know that I have an even better life with my mom now and she will love me forever.

Each year there are approximately 3.9 million dogs that enter shelters and about 1.2 million of those dogs are euthanized. I was lucky enough to make it out alive but unfortunately not everyone has the same luck as me. Please take this into consideration the next time you are looking for your new best friend.