When Cristina Antonucci walked into Second Chance Rescue and met Lola, there was something about Lola’s face that reminded Cristina of the dogs she had grown up with.
“I remember seeing her sad eyes in the photo and just knew I had to bring her home,” Cristina told The Dodo. “She came in with her foster mum and she was just the sweetest little thing and just sat on my feet straight away and looked up at me.”
Lola clearly knew that Cristina was going to be her new mom and this one wasn’t going to get away.
‘Couldn’t let her down’
“The first night I brought her home, she just lay on top of me for hours just hugging me,” Cristina said. “I was surprised how quickly she warmed up to me as I had only really spent the drive home with her at that point.”
“It was like she was just so grateful,” Cristina added, “which is why I also knew that I couldn’t let her down.”
Puppy Lola settled in quickly but her chaotic background meant she had picked up a few bad habits. Thankfully, Cristina was a patient dog mom.
“We had challenges with her digging in the backyard and trying to get through the fence to play with the neighbor’s dog,” she said. “It definitely tested our patience, but we knew that if we didn’t have the patience then no one else would.”
Eventually Lola grew out of digging up Cristina’s plants and under her fence and through it all Cristina learned a new level of patience and persistence.
“You can’t just give up no matter the challenges. No one is perfect,” she said.
Now Lola prefers to chase possums away or play with her new dog brother Lenny.
“They are now best of friends and all they do is play all day long,” Cristina said. “They have only been together for about a month and a half now but they just love each other. They even sleep on the same bed together.”
‘Highlight of my day’
Lola may have posed a few problems in the beginning but Cristina couldn’t be happier with her faithful four-legged friend.
“The highlight of my day is just coming home and spending time with her,” Cristina said. “She really does hold a special place in my heart.”
I’m so glad there are people like Cristina in the world. To see Lola snuggle up against her so in love with her new dog mom makes my heart burst.
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