Once labeled as a “broken dog,” Sanford now can't stop smiling, and his transformation has been nothing short of incredible.
Karen Velasquez, Sanford’s adoptive mom, describes him as the happiest dog she's ever met. “I’m currently fostering my 52nd dog, and I can honestly say I’ve never had someone as cheerful as him,” she shared with The Dodo. “The way he looks at me is like no other animal or person ever has. The only time he doesn’t smile is when he’s sleeping or eating.”
But Sanford’s journey to happiness wasn’t an easy one. In April, animal control found him after he had been struck by a car, leaving him immobile. To make matters worse, they discovered he had a gunshot wound to his right hind leg.
Initially taken to a small municipal shelter in Dallas, Texas, Sanford’s injuries went untreated due to the shelter’s limited resources. He remained there for a week, exhausted and in pain.
It was when a volunteer from Dallas DogRRR visited the shelter that Sanford’s life began to change.
“He was physically drained,” said Keri Anchiarico, executive director of Dallas DogRRR. “When the volunteer went to meet him, he didn’t even try to approach. It was like he had given up and was just waiting for his chance.”
That chance came when Sanford was transferred to foster care with Velasquez.
“He arrived at my house on May 1, just days after being released from the hospital. He’s been smiling ever since,” Velasquez recalled. “I think the moment he stepped into my home, he knew he was in a safe place.”
Sanford, who Velasquez affectionately calls “Sanvy,” now enjoys a life filled with home-cooked meals, daily walks, and playtime with Velasquez’s other dogs. Despite being 10 years old, Sanford doesn’t act his age.
“He’s a really normal dog for a 10-year-old,” Anchiarico said. “He reminds me of an elderly person who’s 95 but acts like they’re in their 50s.”
While Sanford is content in his foster home, there’s hope he’ll find a permanent one.
“He’ll make an amazing family dog,” Anchiarico said. “He gets along well with other dogs, people, and even kids. He’s the perfect companion—always wagging his tail to greet you and ready to spend the day by your side.”
Sanford’s journey from “broken” to blissfully happy proves that with love and care, even the most shattered spirits can heal and thrive.
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