If I needed you, would you come to me? Would you come to me, and ease my pain? If you needed me, I would come to you. I’d swim the seas for to ease your pain – Townes Van Zandt.

Townes (formerly Niro) had it ruff. As a puppy, he ended up at BARC in Houston, a high kill shelter. He was lucky. He got adopted. But two years later his family got a new puppy and Niro found himself back at BARC. And worse, he was LOS (length of stay), meaning his days at the shelter were numbered. It hardly seemed fair. He was most handsome, well behaved, loved people and dogs, and literally just wanted to be hugged.

I photographed him (see above). It was easy because he was so beautiful. I walked him. I fed him. I talked to him. Several weeks passed by and still, no one rescued poor Niro. He deserved a nice home. I had walked him and went on to walk other dogs. I was about to leave the shelter but something made me go back and walk Niro one more time.

As soon as I opened the door to take him out, a young couple was walking in. Experience has taught me how to dog schmooze people. “Are you guys looking for a dog,” I inquired with a big Texas smile on my face. “Yes,” they answered. “Well, here he is,” I told them. “No we’re here for Cowboy. We saw him online.” I told them I’d be right next to them in a dog run with Niro when they were ready for him. I may have gotten a little desperate and promised them free copies of The Dudley Files, dog comedy mystery novels if they adopted Niro.

Twenty minutes later, Niro’s name was changed to Townes and he was headed home with a new mom and dad. And this is what his new family emailed me:

Townes and Thor (their other dog) stayed with my parents this weekend. Townes just ran and ran in big circles around the yard, jumped in the water once, picked up on every smell left by every varmint that has ever walked through that yard. I think it was the best day of his life.

I bet it was. But there will be plenty more for Townes. Oh, and Cowboy, he was adopted by another family. Have a great life Townes.

In the night forlorn, the morning’s born. And the morning shines with the lights of love. You will miss sunrise if you close your eyes. That would break my heart in two.