Vanessa Hrvatin
Special to The Journal
A pair of inseparable dogs who were featured recently in The Journal has found a loving home.
Brandy and B.J. arrived at the Sarnia and District Humane Society last August but couldn’t find a permanent place to live. Would-be adopters were reluctant to take on two large and older dogs, which shelter staff had determined should remain together.
The female husky and male German shepherd arrived at their new 10-acre home just north of Port Huron, Michigan on Dec. 29.
The retired couple learned about Brandy and B.J. when the woman’s father, who lives in Sarnia, showed them The Journal article.
A few days later the couple met the dogs at Theo Mackenzie’s Petrolia home, where they had been in temporary foster care.
“The dogs took to them right away,” said Mackenzie. “It was obvious they’re very experienced with animals.”
Within a few hours of meeting Brandy and B.J., the couple called the Humane Society to confirm their interest in adopting the pair.
“The woman grew up in Sarnia, so we were actually getting a lot of calls from people in the area who knew her, saying the couple would be a great fit,” said Shannon Jacques, an animal care worker at the Sarnia shelter.
The couple are recently retired and have children and grandchildren but no other pets.
The happy ending for the dogs left Mackenzie feeling a little sad.
“This was my first time fostering so it was hard to not get attached,” she said. “But overall it was just such a wonderful experience being able to help them.”
Asked if she would foster again, Mackenzie says yes without hesitation.
“I’m missing Brandy and B.J. already, but I’m happy because they’re going to a wonderful place where they’ll be happy,” she says.
“And they’re together; that’s the most important part.”