An abandoned dog called Chase that was saved and has found a new home thanks to the help of two police officers has been described as “one in a million” by his new family.
The puppy, which is only a few weeks old, was left abandoned last week in Zabbar. A police officer took him in until Christa Cilia, a huge dog lover who already had six dogs of her own, offered to foster the puppy. She had to return the puppy after discovering that the dog had the contagious Parvo virus, for fear that her other dogs would get infected.
Another police officer took him in until he was cured. “I then contacted my husband and asked him if there was any chance we could take him in until he finds a new home. And surprisingly he said yes,” Christa told The Malta Independent.
“So after two days of fostering Chase we set out to find him a permanent home and although people got back to me I felt I couldn’t really trust anyone because of what he had gone through. I really didn’t know what the right place for him was.
Both Christa and her husband began to fall in love with Chase and decided they wanted to keep him after all. “My husband and I talked about it and he decided that we should keep him because he is such a quiet and peaceful dog that he really didn’t make a huge difference. Chase is one of the gentlest dogs I have ever met. This dog is really one in a million. We couldn’t say no,” Christa explained. “It so wonderful to see all the things he’s learnt from the other dogs and we’ve been able to be train him very quickly.”
“My husband and I are obsessed with dogs so it really was an easy choice. We love all animals but dogs are our favourites.” Christa also admitted that putting him up for adoption in the first place was against her wishes. “You cannot but fall in love with Chase instantly. You just have to look at his face and you fall in love. When we met him for the first time we were shocked that anyone could have the guts to dump him outside.”
This is not the first time Christa and her husband have saved an abandoned dog who needed their help. One time they missed their Christmas dinner to save a dog that had been run over by a car twice and only had 50% chance of surviving. But Christa never gave up and eventually the dog recovered and became part of their family. “I fought to get that 50% to a 100%. Every dog deserves a chance. We were told she was going to have major brain problems and now she’s perfectly healthy.”
“Our dogs are our kids, and we treat them as such. They live inside with us, eat near us and sleep with us,” says Christa.
When asked whether this is going to be the last dog they adopt, Christa said: “Yes, I really do think I have to stop now. But I also say this every time I take a dog in, but this time I mean it. I can’t fit more than seven dogs now. I will still always do my best to help dogs who have been neglected but Chase is my last one. He’s the lucky one.”