{"id":76802,"date":"2026-08-20T20:42:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T00:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=76802"},"modified":"2026-08-20T20:42:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T00:42:21","slug":"sarahs-story-six-days-that-meant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/08\/20\/sarahs-story-six-days-that-meant\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah&#8217;s Story \u2014 Six Days That Meant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Written by and shared with permission from Crystal Rodrigues. Story told in her own words \u2014 unedited.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=476&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2971517389860301%2F&#038;show_text=false&#038;width=267&#038;t=0\" width=\"267\" height=\"476\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowFullScreen=\"true\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On April 22, 2026, I went to the Polk County Animal Shelter with my son because we wanted to see what small female dogs they had. It was a very hard thing walking through the doors of the shelter, seeing all the dogs. Some looked like they had just given up, which was truly heartbreaking to see. I shed many tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We were shown two little dogs. One of them was very spunky and full of energy. But then there was Sarah, who was also called Mini (A1265316). Sarah was curled up in her kennel like a little donut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was so thin and fragile. There was something about seeing her like that that touched both of us. We knew she needed us. We didn\u2019t know how little time we would have with her. We didn\u2019t know that bringing her home that day would become one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful experiences of our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shelter told me that Sarah had only just started eating on April 21, the same day she had been spayed. I couldn\u2019t understand how she could have gone through surgery when she was already so unwell and fragile. Wasn\u2019t there more that could have been done to stabilize her first?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"746856\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #746856;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"271\" height=\"304\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 271px) 100vw, 271px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-20T203630.896.webp?fit=271%2C304&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76803 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-20T203630.896.webp 271w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-20T203630.896-267x300.webp 267w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Even though she was weak, Sarah was such a good girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was clearly well trained. She knew how to use her wee-wee pad, even when she was coughing and not feeling well. She wanted to be close to us. She loved cuddling in bed, but at night she liked being in her playpen, surrounded by her blankets, where she seemed comfortable and safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first three days with me, Sarah ate. I cooked for my pets, so I made her broth from chicken and vegetables that I had boiled. I wanted to give her something gentle and nourishing and do everything I could to help her gain strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she started eating very little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah still enjoyed going outside for walks, but she was simply too fragile to walk much. Most of the time, I put her in her stroller so she could still experience the outside world without exhausting herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And she loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She would lay her little head toward the sun while the gentle breeze moved through her fur. I remember watching her like that and thinking that she was taking it all in\u2014the warmth of the sun, the fresh air, the little breeze touching her fur, and her tail wagging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those moments are burned into my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah eventually developed a little congestion. At first, it didn\u2019t seem alarming, but because I loved her and wanted to make sure she was okay, I took her to the veterinarian. They started her on antibiotics, and we had an X-ray scheduled for April 28 at 3:20 in the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I thought we still had time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I thought we were going to find out what was wrong and help her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Sarah never made it to that appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At around 2:30 that afternoon, Sarah passed away in my husband\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only six days after we brought her home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Six days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is all we were given with our little girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But those six days were not meaningless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah knew a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She knew a bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She knew blankets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She knew cuddles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She knew the warmth of the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She knew the feeling of the breeze in her fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She knew what it was like to be cared for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most importantly, she knew she was loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She came into our lives fragile and broken, and we wanted to give her the chance to know what it felt like to be part of a family. We didn\u2019t get the years we hoped for. We didn\u2019t get months or even weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We got six days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But sometimes six days can hold a lifetime of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah didn\u2019t leave this world alone in a shelter kennel. She left surrounded by people who loved her, in the arms of my husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that is something I will always hold onto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah was our little girl for only a short time, but she will forever be part of our family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We rescued Sarah thinking that we were saving her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the end, she saved a piece of our hearts that we didn\u2019t even know needed saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was here for six days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But she will be in our hearts forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am hoping that Sarah\u2019s story reaches many people. I know shelters are doing their best, and I am thankful for the people who take dogs and cats off the streets and give them a place to go. But I also believe shelters need to be better and more transparent. Every life behind a kennel matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are their voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So to anyone who will listen, or who can help spread the word, please do. We need to work together because many voices together are louder than just one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These dogs and cats deserve more. They deserve a chance at a new beginning, a loving home, and a family that will love them unconditionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah was only about three years old. She had more life ahead of her. I will always wonder if there was more that could have been done for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I know one thing for certain: Sarah was a good, strong little girl who never gave up. She fought until her very last breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And for the six days we had her, we loved her with everything we had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah may have only been ours for six days, but she will forever be a part of our family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Six days that meant forever. \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by and shared with permission from Crystal Rodrigues. Story told in her own words \u2014 unedited. On April 22, 2026, I went to the Polk County Animal Shelter with&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":76803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","default_image_id":71799,"font":"","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDhcL1NjcmVlbnNob3QtMjAyNi0wOC0yMFQyMDM2MzAuODk2LndlYnA_Zml0PTI3MSUyQzMwNCZzc2w9MSIsInR4dCI6IlNhcmFoJiM4MjE3O3MgU3RvcnkgXHUyMDE0IFNpeCBEYXlzIFRoYXQgTWVhbnQiLCJ0ZW1wbGF0ZSI6ImRvaXMiLCJmb250IjoiIiwiYmxvZ19pZCI6MTYzMDQwNjYxfQ.JDxPdgRJ8Xjbw2KeTvtStF07MntrH2wbwBDiv7sj9SIMQ"},"version":2,"media_source":"sig","attached_media":[{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/jetpack.com\/redirect\/?source=sigenerate&query=t%3DeyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvbGFrZWxhbmRnYXpldHRlLmluZm9cL25ld3NcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjZcLzA4XC9TY3JlZW5zaG90LTIwMjYtMDgtMjBUMjAzNjMwLjg5Ni53ZWJwIiwidHh0IjoiU2FyYWgncyBTdG9yeSBcdTIwMTQgU2l4IERheXMgVGhhdCBNZWFudCIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiZG9pcyIsImZvbnQiOiIiLCJibG9nX2lkIjoxNjMwNDA2NjF9.UZC-h3vy0c_oZDOmIN6U5Q1jbKhchol_momQBfS2QGgMQ","type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[12,14],"tags":[15553,15222,16334,16338,16335,16333,16337,16336],"class_list":["post-76802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","category-news","tag-animal-rescue","tag-animal-welfare","tag-dog-adoption","tag-pet-advocacy","tag-pet-loss","tag-polk-county-animal-shelter","tag-sarahs-story","tag-shelter-dogs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76802"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76804,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76802\/revisions\/76804"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}