b'Another Shot At RedemptionBy Anna CookeL ike two strangers, locking eyes from across the didnt think about Amber, Clarissa said.runningroom, was it their destiny to be together? The We had bonded. We loved one another. My son lovedpuppy, looking up from her shelter kennel, had her. They slept together. She made us laugh, beenbroughttoHillsboroughCountyPetResource into the kitchen whenever my mom was in there, wait-Center as a stray. She had also been hit by a car. As fate ing to be givena treat. What had I done?would have it, a young woman was walking Top Photo: Clarissa hugs Amber A month later, Clarissa went back topast the puppys kennel when something as her mother, Georgia, and son, the shelter, but Amber had already beenmade her stop. Terrance watch. Left Photo: adopted. At that point, all I wanted toWhile the puppys injuries were not life Amber and Terrance see each know was that she was okay. I asked thethreatening,shewouldneedplentyof other for the first time in almost shelter staff if they knew where she was.work and time to heal. Twenty dollars later, three years. Could they tell me anything about theAmber the puppy was adopted and driving family who adopted her? Clarissa won-homewithClarissatobegintheirnewlifetogether. dered.Of course, the shelter was not able to give her anyClarissa gave her new puppy everything she needed to information on Ambers whereabouts.help her mend and grow into a confident dog. Amber, in I thought, well, maybe it was meant to be, and justreturn, gave Clarissa the peace and calm she didnt know hoped she was in a happy home, said Clarissa.she was missing from her life.Perhaps for atonement, Clarissa became a volunteerAlmost two years later, things began falling apart in with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. I would lookClarissas life. Her father suddenly passed away. While at all the dogs in their kennels and tell them, today, Imshe was helping her mom get things in order, her aunt going to help you find your new family. Its a happypassed away. Now a single mom with a teenage son, she place. Everyone would do a dance when a dog or cat waswas also the caretaker of her mom and the breadwinner adopted.of the household. Overwhelmed, her life seemed to be In reality, Clarissas heart was breaking. Every time Ispinning out of control. Something had to give, she told volunteered at the shelter, I was hoping Amber would beherself.sitting in one of the kennels, ready for me to take herImpulsively acting solely on emotion and irrational home, said Clarissa. thinking,Clarissaowner-surrenderedAmberbackto Another year passed, and Clarissa could not shakeHillsborough County Pet Resource Center. the feeling that Amber was out there somewhere, in needAfter that, there wasnt a day that went by that I of her help. Continued on the following page gwww.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 25'