By Kelly Connolly
Maryland resident Sadae Walters was taking a walk in her garden with her four year-old dog, Princess, when she lost her footing and fell to the ground. The 75-year old Japanese-American was still recuperating from the complications of spinal surgery—a serious operation during which she suffered a stroke that left her with difficulty walking and a numbness on her left side. As she lay on the ground, Walters knew she wouldn't be able to get up on her own.
Princess, a tan, floppy-eared Shepard mix, had been with Walters for only two days. Would the dog be able to help her?
Today, Walters and Princess are a winning combination. Capturing first place in The HSUS's "Beautiful Tails, Remarkable Tales" contest celebrating seniors and their pets, Walters and Princess also captured the hearts of readers who voted to showcase the remarkable story behind their friendship.
A Tough Road
Even before she hit that garden path, Walters was no stranger to hardship. After a difficult childhood in Japan during World War II, she came to America, where she married Leon Walters, an American professor. The couple had four children, and it wasn't long before the kids began clamoring for a family pet. Walters grew so attached to the dog they eventually adopted that when the animal died she determined never to go through the pain of losing a pet again. For years, she refused to adopt another dog.
After her surgery and stroke left her in considerable pain and limited her mobility, however, Walters became depressed. It was her physician who first suggested that she might want to adopt a dog to help her start walking again. At first, Walters resisted the idea, but after her grown children had their say, she agreed to look for a new companion.
Third Time's the Charm
Meanwhile, Princess had some complications of her own. Discovered digging through a dumpster, the shepherd mix was brought to the Caroline County Humane Society in Ridgely, Maryland. Although she was adopted right away, her new owners soon found they were allergic to dogs. Unwilling to adjust their lifestyle, they brought Princess back to the shelter.
The dog fared no better in her second home. Adopted by a couple who were going through a divorce, it wasn't long before Princess was again relinquished to the CCHS.
By now, the animal was showing signs of depression at being returned to the shelter so many times. A shelter volunteer recognized her listlessness and moved Princess into her home. In that nurturing environment, the dog's spirits lifted, and before long her foster mother knew she would make someone a fine pet. But who?
When Walters met Princess, she knew immediately that she was the dog she'd been looking for.
Walters wanted a mixed breed dog who was friendly, patient, and loving. "She wanted to rescue a homeless dog," explains her daughter, Amy. "She didn't want to buy a dog from a pet shop."
Amy was on the computer daily, searching for her mother's ideal dog. But after numerous phone calls, shelter visits, and miles logged in the car, the Walters were on the verge of giving up. Then they discovered Princess.
Saving Grace
When Walters fell on that second day with Princess, she did what she hoped would save her: she called out to the animal for help. Princess seemed to understand, because she immediately trotted over to Walters and leaned against her.
What happened next was extraordinary. Princess stood still and braced her little body, Walters says, so that by grasping the dog around the neck she was able to pull herself first to her knees, then to her feet. Princess stood while Walters leaned on the dog's shoulders to regain her balance, then walked beside her back to the safety of the house.
Since then, whenever Princess passes by that spot in the garden she hesitates and looks up at Walters, as if to make sure that she is safe. "It's almost like she is telling me, 'Now remember, you fell down here'," she marvels.
Winning Combinations
Walters' story touched thousands of people who voted in our "Beautiful Tails, Remarkable Tales" contest. The three finalists included a calico cat who brings new life into her home; a miniature poodle who helps his caregiver see the world with new eyes; and Princess, whose companionship helped Walters face the physical and emotional challenges of recuperating from a stroke.
All three finalists received autographed versions of Mark Asher's book Old Friends, a beautiful coffee table book filled with stunning black and white photos of mature pets.
But for Walters, the real prize is having Princess in her life. With her dog at her side, Walters feels healthier and more independent by the day. She states adamantly that Princess is the reason she's walking again. "We take her everywhere," she says, "I feel like we have a child. She makes us feel young."
Amy agrees: "They fill the void for each other."
And Walters admits, "It's turned out a thousand times better than we expected."
Kelly Connolly is an Issues specialist in The HSUS Companion Animals section.
