Xavier Lee, 13, was hoping to find a new best friend for his dog at the Joplin adopt-a-thon on June 26. What he got instead was a new best friend for himself.
Xavier, his mom, Dana, and his brothers J.J. and Alex had been having a difficult month—J.J.’s assisted-living home had been destroyed in the tornado that tore through Joplin on May 22—so everyone was excited to welcome a new dog into the family.
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| Xavier and Leia |
The resident Lee Family dog is named Sparky Anakin, so naturally, Xavier named the new puppy Leia.
The excitement of Leia’s arrival hasn’t worn off yet in the Lee household. “Xavier and Alex have been taking her out at 5:00 A.M. to go to the bathroom, and they keep fighting over who gets to hold the leash! I tell them, ‘Boys, you have to share!’" laughs Dana, who adds that the excitement hasn’t worn off for Leia, either. “She’s just wearing herself out trying to do everything!"
Xavier is having lots of fun teaching Leia new tricks and playing her favorite game, tug-of-war, every day, and their bond is already firm. “She means a lot to me," he says. “She’s like a sister that I never had, and I just love her so much. No one is going to take her place in my heart!" As for Sparky, he wasn’t so sure about Leia at first, but he’s starting to warm up to her—even though she insists on playing with his toys. He’s starting to see her as less of a disturbance in the Force, and more of a member of his family.
Giving Thanks
There are so many wonderful stories from Joplin, and none of them would have been possible without the help of countless organizations and volunteers. We'd like to extend a sincere thanks to each organization. And, of course, thank YOU. Because of your unwavering support, we were able to assist more than 1,300 animals in Joplin—but thousands of animals still need our help. Please consider making a gift to make a difference in their lives today.
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