Sweet Simba went to his forever home on January 5th, 2002.

Have you ever felt unwanted?
Have you ever felt alone?
Have you ever felt like you were nothing special?
Well, imagine how Simba felt when his family told him that he couldn't come with them, because the new landlord said, "Sorry, no dogs allowed."

The only family Simba ever knew turned him over to the local shelter when he was only 2 years old. Simba had been through a lot with his previous owners. At that time, no one knew how much. We knew he once had a jaunt in the streets ... which unfortunately led to him being hit by a car. But now he was left at the shelter waiting and wanting a family who would treat him as part of the family and never leave him behind again.

On May 4th, 2001, Simba came into foster care. At his first visit to the vet, he tested heartworm positive. And so began Simba's trips to the vet office. He successfully made it through his heartworm treatments with flying colors. However, as days past his foster home noticed Simba's continuing trouble using his back leg (that was the result of that fatal jaunt).

He was taken back to the vet's office for X-rays to see what was the trouble. To everyone's dismay, we found out that poor Simba's muscles were in atrophy and it was obvious to the vet that his previous surgeon did a terrible job fixing his injuries. He needed a femoral head resection as soon as possible, before amputation would be the only option.

While all of this was going on, little did Simba know, his shining stars were on the horizon. Lori and Tim had been searching for the perfect new family member for their home. They came upon Simba's story and picture and knew he was the one for them. They called rescue, and despite the ordeals that sweet Simba was dealing with, they just had to meet him.

After Simba's surgery a date was set for him to meet his new potential family. Needless to say it was love for all family members. Simba still had some recoverying to do from his surgery, but Lori and Tim wanted to wait for him. In the meantime, Simba had a few sleepovers at Tim and Lori's, until he was ready to become a full-time family member.

That special day came on January 5th, 2002. Simba made his move to his new home with Lori and Tim forever.

Tails of the Tundra would like to thank his new home for waiting for him and giving him all the love and time he needs.

This is one special family!

Update from Simba's family - February 25th, 2002:

Simba has turned the Stradling household into the comedy hour, and he loves being the star!

He seems so proud to make us laugh and will do anything to elicit a "you are such a good boy" out of us. Sometimes he even corrects us with a "woof," so we tell him he's such a good wolf!

Simba gets so excited when it's time to go out, but he has learned how to walk nicely on his leash... unless he spots one of his dog friends from our apartment complex. On walks or jogs, Simba even doubles back every once in a while to stay by our side, where he stops, sits, and waits for us to pat his head before he'll continue.

Speaking of walks and jogs, when Simba started living with us at the beginning of the year, he was still recovering from reconstructive surgery on his hip and was using his back leg less than fifty percent of the time. That 50% skipped rapidly past 75% or 80%... we could safely estimate that he uses it 99% of the time, now - walking, running, jumping up on us to beg for food, etc...

Simba always wants to be near his people. He loves his daily wrestling with daddy and looks forward to cuddling up and getting belly scratches from us. He tries so hard to go out of his way to prove he can be on his best behavior - he's even recently managed to convince us he doesn't need the crate when he's home alone!

Simba is definitely one of the happiest (and most spoiled!) dogs we've ever seen. He knows he's truly part of the family here, and we love living with him as much as he loves owning us.

Update from Simba's Family February 2005:

Dear TOTTSHR,

We just wanted to drop you a line and give you all an update on Simba!

Ever since he trotted through our door, he's been the light of our lives! Always happy to remind us that it's 7AM walktime and we must have slept through the alarm (even on weekends!), or assume the position with a "Rurr Rurr Rurr!" (butt in the air!), or remind us just how much we want to rub his belly, Simba's just the best little friend we ever could have asked for.

He's recently found his second puppyhood after several years of indifference to toys, he now loves to throw his ball around and go chase it, or pull on tug-toys with mommy and daddy. We moved to Florida in January 2003, and Simba was even more than happy to sit in the closet with us during the last hurricane!

He's at his happiest when both mom and dad are with him, loves car rides to visit his cousins (one is another rescued husky!), and has adapted remarkably well to us having a baby.

Simba's just been a loving, wonderful, hilarious character. You can't put a price on the richness that he's brought to our lives. Thank you so much for doing all that you do to share the love that these dogs give. Every day we tell him that he's the best dog in the world.

All the best,
The Stradling Family