Wunder the Adventure Pup, as he’s known, is only four years old, but he already has had enough adventures to last a lifetime.
After being adopted and returned to animal rescue three separate times during the COVID-19 pandemic, fate came knocking on his door again in the beginning of 2021. This time, he would find a forever home with his new owner, Holly Long.
“He is very energetic and bossy,” Long said. “Whatever Wunder wants, Wunder gets.” That’s a saying in our house. He’s very compassionate, I’ve never met a dog in my life that could look at someone and see exactly what they needed. I think that’s where the fit between him and Sage Oak works out.”
Today, Wunder is not only a fixture in Long’s home but also roams the halls of Sage Oak Denton thanks to a chance encounter with Sage Oak’s regional director of business development, Christina Hodack, at a community event. It turned out to be the start of a beautiful friendship.
“We had put up a tent at a community event in Denton called Dog Days of Denton,” Hodack said. “It was in the heat of the summer. They have this pet event where lots of vendors come out. I was working at our little station, and that’s when Holly and Wunder came up. Holly and I got to talking, and she said that he does pet therapy, and I shared with her where I worked, and so that’s how the relationship budded with us inviting them to come.”
Wunder visits the community about once a month, and his presence is welcomed by residents and staff members alike. His life at Sage Oak is full of races with the UPS truck (from a safe distance), pets from residents, naps and, of course, a few treats now and then.
Hodack sees many similarities between Wunder’s journey and those of Sage Oak residents. Kindred spirits can come in many different forms, including the four-legged variety.
“He was in a hopeless situation. He kept going back to the pound until he finally found his forever home,” Hodack said. “A lot of our families when they come in, they’re kind of facing the same thing for them. It feels like a hopeless situation, especially those who are dealing with cognitive impairment. It’s very stressful. They don’t know that there is a good way out. They have a lot of guilt about placing their family members somewhere sometimes. Oddly enough, once they get to us, that seemingly hopeless situation blooms into a beautiful situation that they never realized was an option. So I think Wunder and a lot of our own residents and families have that in common. It doesn’t mean ‘terrible’ is ahead of us; sometimes, you have to feel [pain] before you can get to the other side of it.”
Click here to see the In Focus archive and read how to submit photos of activities at your community for consideration of publication.
