Last December Leonard Franklin and his wife, Cindy, who own and operate the Redlands Blvd Car Wash rescued a lovely pit mix female puppy. She was about a year old and badly abused. They found her along side the road back with terrible mange, in very poor health and a broken rope around her neck. Without any hesitation they gathered her up and got her the medical attention she would need. It took six full months of daily love and care to bring her completely back to good health.
The photos of her before and after are amazing. The puppy was able to overcome all her medical issues. Leonard and Cindy re-named her Kona, which is a Hawaiian word which means "Lady" which is exactly what Kona is. Having four dogs of their own already they knew they would have to find her a good home when it was time so about mid-May Cindy Franklin reached out to my Susanne Spirit's Musical Trucking Dogs Adoption Program.
While most of the dogs the program adopts come from shelters the Franklins learned about the program and contacted us.
Kona was brought out to the TA-East in Ontario California, with all her "toy's" bedding, food, bowls, etc. that she would need to feel at home should she be adopted. The Franklins soon met long-haul truckers Jerry and Janice Porschakin of McAllen, Texas. They saw the Franklins and Kona walking the parking lot for some exercise and Jerry commented to his wife how much Kona looked like a dog they once had in their family before she passed away.
The Porschakins knew instantly that they wanted to adopt Kona. From the first moment Jerry and Kona were together all the folks around the area knew they were meant to be together.
Without all the effort the Franklins had invested in protecting Kona and returning her to good health this adoption would not have been possible. It has been said many times that a village is needed to raise a child and all animal lovers know our pets are in our hearts just like the love we have for our children. Therefore it should be equally stated that it takes a village and in the case of the Musical Trucking Dogs Adoption Program a nation to raise our doggies and to love and protect should be added to the old saying.
Without caring folks like Leonard and Cindy Franklin and Jerry and Janice Porschakin being vigilant for the safety and protection of our pets, puppies like Kona might be dead.
With all our local animal shelters being overloaded with lost and abandoned pets each and everyday Kona's story should be a real reminder to all of us here in the Inland Empire to support these facilities when and how we can and surely when we see an animal in harms way we should consider taking upon ourselves the task of helping the animal get returned to a safe, loving and protected environment.
Be sure and see the video regarding this adoption story here under our Truckin Dog blog, titled Kona. And to learn more about the Musical Trucking Dogs Adoption Program and how you can become a part of this saving dogs' live . . . Please Visit www.susannespirit.com.
