Entrant's Name
Leilani Joy

Animal’s Story
Togo is a 1 year old pup who was rescued from an animal hoarding case in the Central Valley of California. At only 25 lbs, he looks something like a miniature German Shepherd, but his exact mix is a mystery. Born into chaos and neglect, Togo was just one of 100 dogs trying to find his place in the world. He was rescued along with many of his siblings by the wonderful, Soft Paws Rescue in Sonoma CA. Having almost no human contact, Togo was fearful, shy, yet sweet and when we saw his hopeful face we had to take him home.

We adopted Togo at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and chose his name after the hero Alaskan sled dog of the 1920s who ran nearly 300 through a brutal Alaskan landscape to deliver a diphtheria serum in a time of crisis. Togo was considered too small for his breed, but against all odds, he became a hero.

In just a few months, our Togo has evolved into an incredibly loving, intelligent, and wonderful member of our family. He brings joy and new adventure to us everyday. We owe so much to wonderful animal rescues like, Soft Paws Rescue, and now we can't imagine life without Togo.