Adoption Stories

Logan

When Mark Brosche drove from the Peninsula up to the San Francisco SPCA early in January he was looking for a basset hound, his childhood favorite.

Instead his gaze fell on Logan, a 10-year-old German shepherd mix, returned by his guardian of nine years who lost his job and could no longer afford veterinary care.

“He was losing the beauty contest,” Brosche said, recalling the shaky old dog who was barking and appeared upset.

Logan, described on his SPCA kennel card as “a sweet old man with so much love to give,” had arrived at the with numerous medical issues, ranging from an allergic reaction to flea bites to arthritis that made him wobble when he walked. He had undergone a lumpectomy. Parts of his coat had been shaved off because of skin irritations and the surgery.

The much needed medical care he received at the SPCA was due to the generous efforts of the Cinderella Fund, which gives needed medical care to the neediest dogs and cats in the shelter. Because of donors, animals that might otherwise face euthanasia are treated medically and made ready for adoption.

Brosche found the encounter haunting. “I felt terrible,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep.”

The next morning he was a man on a mission. He drove back to San Francisco, talked his way into Maddie’s Adoption Center even though the shelter is closed to the public on Mondays, and adopted Logan.

“He is doing just great,” Brosche said. “He sleeps with us every night.” Logan does have trouble climbing into bed, so Brosche has positioned a hassock next to the bed.

Brosche is well award of Logan’s advanced years, but is determined to provide a happy and forever home. “He’s going to enjoy life,” he said. “He brings a lot of joy to my life. It’s going to be a hard day …”

Logan also brought joy to Harry, the Brosche’s 6-year-old, 14-pound lhasa apso adopted from a shelter on the Peninsula.

Harry has had an empty spot in his life since last July when Barney, another German shepherd mix the Brosche’s adopted from the SPCA in 2001, passed away.

A vet came to the Brosches’ home and euthanized Barney in the backyard when it was time. He was wrapped in his blanket and put in the back of an SUV. Harry was let out of the house, jumped in the back and rested his head on Barney’s body for the drive to a pet cemetery in Colma.

“He misses Barney,” Brosche said.

Now Harry is a happier dog and has a new lease on life. In turn, Brosche said, “he instills a lot of energy in Logan.” The two are best pals and, Brosche said, “sleep butt to butt.”

Logan has also helped the Brosches in their grief over Barney. “I see a little of Barney in Logan,” he said.

When Logan was adopted, he was in the same room that housed Barney back in 2001. “That is a great, great facility,” Brosche said of Maddie’s. “There’s a lot of heart there.”

Logan’s coat is growing back and his health is fine. And he’s a happy dog, coming a long way from the barking dog Brosche first saw at Maddie’s.

“His demeanor is just fabulous,” he said.