Clementine the Catahoula Hound Mix has a pretty interesting story. First found straying south, this three-year-old puppy has gone from being rescued twice back to becoming a hero hound with Cedar Hill Fire Station #212 in Texas.
Now, Clementine is a hero of heroes, and she won the ASPCA dog of the year award!
Clementine was first cared for when she was found lost in southern Louisiana. But because this happened in 2021, and happened to happen as Hurricane Aida was headed for the bay coast, she didn’t stay there long. Three months after arrival, sweet Clementine was evacuated before the storm and made her way to Tri-City Animal Shelter in Texas.
Twice, Clementine was brought home by a family, only 10 days later she was taken to a shelter. Clementine’s high energy and active hunting abilities didn’t match either of her first two families. While every dog is different, certain breeds are more likely to be couch breeds, while others just can’t resist the urge to chase small animals.
But then after two failed attempts, this pet dog won gold and found the family of his dreams.
Captain Robert Moree explains: “One day, after I answered a call not far from the Tri-City Animal Shelter, I decided to stop by to see what dogs they had. “I knew we wanted to rescue to help raise awareness about adoptions from local shelters. I explained that we wanted a dog that they had more difficulty placing, preferably one that was larger and could be easily adjusted to the fire station without noticing and training a dog. child. ”
Clementine helps her new family relax and recover from what is, quite often, very stressful shift. She lives in station full time and even has her very own outdoor playground. Her presence immediately impacted the entire fire station in a very positive way.
“As firefighters, we are often seen as ‘masculine’, but the things we go through have a lasting impact on us and sometimes, it’s hard to share our feelings after being confronted. deal with some difficult situations. Not only did Clementine make the station feel at home during our 24-hour shift, but it also brought positivity, constantly boosted morale, and kept us excited to come to the station,” said Captain Moree. speak.
Clementine’s story shows how a “shelter dog” can be both a beloved pet and a source of gentle support and comfort. The fire station hopes that by sharing Clemingine’s story, others will be inspired to give many “bad kids” like Clementine a second chance to thrive in a loving home.
“Surprise. We’ve adopted Clementine to help raise awareness of the huge impact rescuing pets from a local shelter – especially on the mental health of first responders — and now, receiving this national award through the ASPCA helps us accomplish that,” said Captain Moore.
Congratulations, Clementine and thank you for all you do for fire station full of first responders!
Featured pictures: Facebook
