While working at my grandfather's vineyard, Loughlin Vineyard, I met Kerri, Billy, and their adorable rescue dog, Clara. They shared their incredible adoption story of saving Clara and how she changed their life!

"Clara arrived to ARF in October of 2012 as one of a group of dogs rescued from kill shelters in Los Angeles. We met Clara as "Minnie." We decided to name change her name to Clara, after Martha Clara Vineyard where my husband and I had our wedding reception. She was a small, sweet, adorable little girl but she was in poor health. Clara had several masses on her mammary glands and severe dental disease. She had a partial chain mastectomy on her right side and individual lumps removed from her left side (2 surgeries). Luckily after the biopsy, all tumors turned out benign! She also had two separate dental surgeries and ended up losing a lot of her teeth, however ARF assured us she is now much more comfortable now. Clara also has a mid-grade heart murmur, early heart disease and is on heart medication for life.

I never knew a dog would teach me so much about life. Despite her hardships, she is just so eager to please and provides not only us, but also our friends and family with unconditional love each day. Clara is doing very well considering her journey and will be celebrating her 7th birthday this August! She enjoys taking walks around the local lake, licking anyone she meets, preparing her bed for "bed-time", belly-rubs and healthy turkey meatballs. Clara is very lucky to have been passed off to such amazing shelters who do beyond honorable work in reducing the number of animals killed in shelters in the United States. Not only do they provide a loving atmosphere for these animals, but they also provide them with the services they need (such as Clara's many surgeries). We feel thankful everyday that Clara is part of our lives!"

Sourced by Brittany Cutrone

Edited by Jahdai Kilkenny