How A Rescue Poodle Rescued Her New Family: Watch

Melfi has a storied history as the winningest standard poodle in history. That alone makes her special, say Carla and Jim O’Neill of Dearborn, who submitted the dog’s photos when Patch asked readers to submit photos of their pets to commemorate National Puppy Day.

The O’Neills adopted Melfi after her owner, Susan, became ill, promising to nurture and help develop what Susan was convinced was the heart of a champion.

But Melfi’s influence doesn’t end in the winner’s circle.

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Here, in Carla O’Neill’s words, is Melfi’s touching story:

Melfi was much loved by her owner, Susan, who believed that Melfi could become an agility champion, even though she was a poodle. So, for the first four years of her life, Melfi was groomed and trained to become an agility champion.

Against many odds, including but not limited to her breed, Melfi prevailed and racked up many awards.

But there was just one more agility award Melfi needed to win to become the most winning standard poodle in history.

Susan and Melfi trained together very hard and were about to enter the final competition that would forever put Melfi in the annals of agility championships.That is when Melfi’s owner Susan, became very ill.

She had joint problems and pain that prevented her from continuing Melfi’s training. Eventually, she was diagnosed with an incurable form of leukemia and had to give up the agility training.

Melfi was heartbroken and spent countless days and nights hiding underneath the dining room chairs and table, while Susan was taken to the hospital for countless procedures, including blood transfusions and two bone marrow transplants, none of which saved her life.

While she was fighting for survival, Susan was most concerned about the future of Melfi. We promised Susan to take care of Melfi if Susan should not survive her horrible and painful fight for life.

We made that promise out of love, because after having put down our last dog nearly 20 years ago, the last thing we wanted was the pain of parting with another one. But we set aside those concerns and that is how we ended up with this wonderful dog, who we tried to pass off as a rescue dog so she could see Susan in the hospital.

In the end, Melfi was not allowed in the hospital, and Susan did not live.

But, in the end, Melfi also rescued us from our grief and fears of allowing another dog into our lives and hearts.

Below, watch Melfi in the Sportsmen’s Agility Trial at Novi in June 2010: