It must be good karma or just coincidence. But this story does prove that when you give a little love, it all comes back to you.
More than a year ago, Bernard Holland took in an abandoned pup. He has never left the dog’s side since then.
He named the dog “Oreo,” probably because of his black-and-white fur pattern.
Bernard fell into hard times, but his love for the dog never did.
He wound up homeless but he made sure that his buddy never went cold and alone.
Last month, temperatures in Indianapolis went below zero.
Bernard knew he could have stayed at his sister’s. But dogs were not allowed at her house so he braved the cold just so he could stay by Oreo’s side.
He found a best friend and decided to stay with him no matter what.
Now, Bernard is seeing better times, thanks to people who have hearts of gold like his.
He was setting up a tent one cold day when Horizon House volunteer Melissa Burgess saw him with Oreo. Melissa contacted Ben Berlein of Wigglebutt Dog House and informed them of the situation.
Wigglebutt Dog House gave Oreo a place to stay in.
That gave 53-year old Bernard a chance to put his life back together.
Bernard is now seeing better days.
He got a part-time job at Wigglebutt Dog House where he does painting and maintenance. He stays with Oreo at a nearby motel.
He still brings Oreo to the dog house to enjoy the company of other playmates.
He may not have won the lottery but something really good happened. “He was very sad and lost when we first encountered him, and now he is more energized and up. We are very proud of him,” says Melissa.
Oreo was just skin and bones when his owner found him. Now, he’s a 35-pound ball of sunshine and happiness.
“When I got her, she was so skinny, you could see every bone in her body,” Bernard narrates.
Facing better days, Bernard know just where he’s heading: “My plan is to get a job, get a place, reunite with Oreo and live out the rest of our lives together.”
They’ve been through the worst together — and prove that some bonds are truly unbreakable.