In June 2005, a 10 month old dog with serious burns was brought to the Animal Shelter in the Lake Chapala region of Jalisco, Mexico. The woman who found him said the vets in Guadalajara would not treat him.
Because my mom had worked for a hospital for burned children for 30 years, I knew this dog could have a life. As shelter manager, it became my mission to save this pup.
Originally, we named him "No Fumar" (no smoking in spanish), but when it became clear he would live, I changed his name to Omar and he became my boy.
Over the next four years, Omar was my constant companion, a loving and happy friend. He did have health issues but we fought them together and won!
I've never felt such total and unconditional love from anyone with two or four legs. My boy gave me joy every day.
In April 2009, Omar came down with congestive heart failure, the same condition which had taken my mom 2 years earlier. I knew I could have kept him "alive" for a little longer, but after watching how my mom suffered, I made the most difficult decision of my life and sent Omar to doggy heaven.
I have his ashes and he will always be in my heart. My time with Omar were the best years of my life. Ours was a story that proves love can overcome!
Yaya con Dios, mi hijo,
Dorothy DeMartin
Ajijic, Mexico
