Mattie May

To the editor:

To say I love Mattie May doesn’t come close to expressing how much this beautiful, vulnerable dog means to me, and I have no doubt many of us have gotten to know Mattie May over the past several months. I remember when the call came through that a dog who uses wheels needed help. To no surprise, no shelter could take her in. Shelters are not designed to care for a dog on wheels.

We lead with our hearts, and although we didn’t know how to help her, we were going to get it figured out. Every single day we are faced with complex problems, and we embrace the task of finding solutions. You all got to know Mattie May from her pictures and her very active social calendar that her incredible fosters kept.

The fosters tended to her daily needs and put the hard work into establishing a schedule so Mattie May would learn to go potty outside. Her progress was remarkable, and our pup was growing into a dog. There was never a doubt finding a forever home was going to be challenging.

Mattie May

Our community took a collective sigh of relief and let out cheers two weeks ago when Mattie May went to her forever home. We were devastated when Mattie May was dropped off at the shelter late Tuesday without her wheels, without her drag bag, without any of the items she needs to get around. We received no phone call for help. Instead, we were told she was “driving the little dogs crazy.”

We have a couple of options right now. One option is to sit in our anger, and the other option is we rally together to help our precious girl find a deserving home.

I am asking you to help me, help Mattie May find a family who will love her and protect her. She needs us as much today as the first day we met her, and you can help us find the right people for our girl.

Would you please share her story far and wide? She needs someone who is ready to care for her with an understanding that she is in harm’s way without their kindness. She needs someone who will never, ever fail her. Mattie May needs us to help her person find her.

She is the embodiment of vulnerability and hope. She radiates love and will make you laugh. She also reminds us how much these lives rely on all of us to help them. Mattie May wouldn’t survive without people looking out for her. And Mattie May impacts all of us much more profoundly than any words can express.

Please, let’s come together and find our Mattie May a worthy home.

From my heart to yours,

Maureen O’Nell, CEO

Suncoast Humane Society

Editor’s note: The Suncoast Humane Society is in Englewood at 6781 San Casa Drive. If you are interested in providing a foster, or forever, home, contact information is 941-474-7884 or visit www.humane.org .