A few months later, my husband and I sadly said goodbye to our Labrador. I decided to visit the shelter with high hopes of finding a new furry companion. Our main requirement was that it be a dog compatible with our laboratory. There, amid the chaos, we came across a dirty brown dog named Ziggy, tangled in a heavy carpet. We immediately realized that it was him.

As we began to fill out the paperwork, an employee approached us and told us the news; “Ziggy” was actually a woman. The shelter staff mislabeled her due to the condition of her fur. However, this discovery did not completely change our decision; This beautiful girl was supposed to come with us. We decided to name her “Lola” after a 1960s song by The Kinks. After going and taking a refreshing bath, Lola turned into a redhead.

Unfortunately, Lola’s time on the streets took a toll on her health. A day or two after he was brought home, he began to feel ill. This worried us a lot. He lost his love for food and became increasingly withdrawn; I felt like we were on the verge of losing him. From time to time he showed signs of improvement. Then again.

That night I slept with Lola under my robe and prayed for her recovery. Every day when I went to work, I had two hopes in my heart. I’m afraid he won’t be alive when I get home.

A few years ago, my husband stopped all his activities. I just cuddled all day. He wanted her to feel loved, even though her time was running out.

In the evening he curled up on the sofa. I slept peacefully. When he woke up the next morning, his eyes were shining. His ears filled with enthusiasm. From that day on, he seemed to turn a corner and began to blossom.

Four years have passed since then. Lola became our companion and leader of our furry friends. He goes on trips with us, accompanies us on hikes, and curls up next to us all night. Our little hairy girl has truly captured our hearts.