Jan 13, 2009 6:13 pm US/Eastern
Pet Therapy: Healing, Recovery And Love
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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Radar, a ten month old pit-mix, has a good home with the men at the Salvation Army in Fort Lauderdale.
CBS
Radar is a ten-month-old pit-mix and has a good home with the men at the Salvation Army in Fort Lauderdale.
"Look at that face." Randall Dugan said pointing to a brown and white puppy who sat beside him on a worn and tattered leather sofa.
Behind the bright, brown eyes of the adorable little pooch is a story of a dog who almost didn't survive. Radar was found walking on Davie Road in Fort Lauderdale, emaciated, drinking from muddy puddles.
"He was lost; he was a run-away." Dugan explained to CBS4 Mobile Journalist Jim Robinson.
The dog was taken to the Humane Society of Broward, where he was fed, cleaned and brought back to life.
It's a story that Dugan said was not much different from his own, when he was in need of help. "An addiction to drugs and alcohol brought me to the Salvation Army," he sighed.
Like many of the men at the Salvation Army, fifty-four-year-old Dugan shared a special bond with Radar; both were down on their luck and hit rock bottom.
It's a situation that Mark Jacob said mirrored his own. He said, "I was basically living out of my truck, jumping in swimming pools to clean off, just living the life of insanity with no hope."
Jacobs graduated from the work therapy program which has given him a second chance. He's also a dog lover, and he wanted to return the favor to the other men. He adopted Radar from the Humane Society of Broward.
"When they have their down days, they'll go over and play with him and pet him, pick him up," Jacobs said smiling.
Dugan added, "They've given Radar a home and in turn he gives love to the guys here and they give love back."
Whether you walk on two legs or four, there are second chances for everyone.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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