For the Love of Leopold

A Story in 3 Chapters

July 2010

Chapter One

My life before March 2010 is my secret biography.

I am told that I lived in Northern Indiana.

One day I ran away and got hurt. I do not know how, or how long I was wandering alone, looking for help.

Animal control found me on the road and my courage and personality won them over.

They named me Leopold.I was very sick, so they called

BARC and GLWR to help me.

BARC was able to get me to AETC of Chicago in a hurry and I had super care, including treatment for my infection and surgery to remove my rear left leg.

I was a model patient (though I did not see much of Chicago!)

Chapter Two: 2 Parallel Stories

Soon I went my GLWR foster home in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Stephanie and Grant took good care of me as I healed.

While I was healing, a family in Maryland (Judith, Norman and Weimaraner Lucy) were looking to adopt a Weimaraner rescue as a companion for 6-year old Lucy.

One Saturday morning while listening to an NPR story about spring being the best time to rescue a dog, Norman found my blog. He is from Wisconsin, too!

It was love at first sight!

Each day as I got stronger, Judith and Norman worked with GLWR, arranging to adopt 3-legged me!

They visited my blog often to see my progress and they told Lucy a new brother was coming soon.

Chapter Three: Saving the Best for Last

On Friday April 23, 2010 Stephanie, foster brother Moose and I got in the car and drove (via AETC for a visit) from Oshkosh to Grand Rapids, MI.

On the same morning, Norman, Judith and Lucy left Maryland and drove 750 miles, to Grand Rapids.

It was time for my ADOPTION to a “forever” home.

During my first week in Maryland I met my “personal assistant” and dog walker, Nancy. (I also had many other visitors and got a lot of presents and new toys.)

I got cookies from Mailman Mike.

Lucy and I got use to living together and I learned to run up and down the stairs with speed and ease.

We go to the dog park whenever we can get a ride there. I LOVE the dog park; I am the fastest runner there.

When we come home, Lucy and I nap together.

On really hot days we get Wisconsin frozen custard at the Dairy Godmother, just like the Obama girls did on Father’s Day last year.

Lucy and I get to share a small vanilla cone.

That’s Sasha

We believe in Animal Rescue!For Lucy’s 6th birthday we took a Cruise on the

Potomac to support local dog rescue…with breakfast at a Georgetown Café!

And Now I am One of Ten Finalists in Purina�’s

2010 Rally for Rescue Contest!

I am a hard campaigner, and I am thriving on Purina ProPlan!

Vote for me at www.rallytorescue.org/

(Campaigning with Judith at a local Purina event)

If �“to know me is to love me,�” These are My New Secrets

• I maintain my weight at a handsome 60 pounds;• I’ve never met a bird I did not want to chase;• My favorite people food is hummus;• My favorite household chore is cleaning the

dishes as they are stacked in the dishwasher;• I can catch kibble from 50 feet away;• I can open all the doors in my new house;• I call and write my foster mom often (she even

sent me a care package).

If �“to know me is to love me,�” These are My New Secrets

• A dog can never have too many bones;• I love Judith, Norman and Lucy more than words

can say and they love me back just as much.• Without BARC or GLWR I’d have neither my life

nor a forever family. Thank you both.

With love and gratitude always,Leopold Marks