Truffle’s story:

 I asked God to help me with a solution, and I called my daughter, Cynthia, to lament poor Truffle’s prognosis. Two days later, Cynthia called me back. Her vet would do the surgery for a much lesser cost and she and I could work out the change. She came up and picked up Truffle boy, and took him back down to Alabama

. Just before Truffle was slated for his first surgery, a renowned vet-surgeon from Auburn University contacted Cynthia’s vet, looking for any candidates that had this rare joint disease. Truffle was admitted into a “first of its kind” surgery; costs incurred were nearly nil, and signatures giving over permission to have exclusive video surgery rights were given. Cynthia and I were floored and in tears of joy, the way things were working out in Truffle’s favor. God had obviously sent Truffle here for a reason, and He intended on keeping Truffle here to do what he was supposed to do. Truffle had the surgery; Cynthia took care of his recovery both times, giving her time and energy and love … above all, her great capacity for love. She finally brought our boy home (our = mine and Cynthia’s) here to North Carolina, where he had an acre of fenced-in land to continue exercising in. And exercise he did. He was finally able to run at 13 months of age. And it was time to find what the good Lord had saved him for. I interviewed family after family that were interested in this beautiful blanket-backed chocolate male; each time, I’d call Cynthia and tell her about them and why I’d decided they weren’t “the one(s)”. Truffle turned fifteen months old. And then we met Jerry – Truffle’s reason for being here.

Jerry’s Story:
At the age of 40 I was stricken with a rare disease called Polyglandular Deficiency Syndrome type II.  This left me disabled and at home most of the time.  My wife and children would be gone for the day with work and school and I would be stuck with daytime TV or the computer. What a nightmare.

       I was used to being very active and outdoors since I was a welder in heavy steel construction.  I also enjoyed Rock climbing and pretty much everything that had to do with the outside.  Stir crazy, I turned to the computer and was surfing the net looking at companion dogs.  Then I came across the advertisement for a kennel reduction showing rat terriers.  The owner of the kennel, Sherri, and I e-mailed each other several times, and talked on the phone, and we decided to get one of the dogs.  My wife drove us from our home in Pennsylvania to their kennel in North Carolina so I could see the dog we’d decided on and make sure that we were compatible.  As it turned out we weren't.  The little dog that we went for seemed to know what was going on and did not want anything to do with us.  However, this other little fellow named Truffle seemed to want to meet us very much, and once he had, he had no problem with us.  Ironically he was a bit disabled as well.  So, turns out that we were a perfect match.

  Now my days are happy as my little companion stays pretty much by my side.  Especially when I need to lay down and rest.  Naptime is his favorite part of the day. Some days Truffle will actually gently grab my hand as I walk around to my side of the bed, like he’s leading me to where I need to be. Truffle has brought back some life to our whole family, as he is a wonderfully high-spirited little guy.  He is also great for therapy, and doesn't charge for the treatments!
 

The way Truffle has benefited:
The first few days of acclimation were as expected but once everyone got to know each other things went very well and quickly.  Truffle learned that the children were as good as any stuffed squeaky toy and was soon running after them in the yard.  He also started to jump which he was slow to do in the beginning.  His love for playing with the children overcame his natural hesitation from his bilateral hip replacement surgery.  It wasn't long at all before he was chasing the squirrels out of the yard - which is now his domain.  He runs at a full sprint and changes direction as if there were never anything wrong.  It's absolutely amazing.  He started to jump up onto our bed, which is 28 inches high and soon that became second nature as well.

       I firmly believe that the surgery he went through and the therapy were both a great success. But, I also know the natural therapy of just having a loving family and fun with the children really did the trick for Truffle. The squirrels did their part too.

By: Jerry Armstrong and Sherri Chatterton