Peachy's Pet Pals Meets Take a Trip to Asia: Introducing Our Instagram Friend and Canine Sensation with a Big Heart, Leon Yano! #NationalDogDay Leon Comes to You From Japan and is a Therapy Dog.
Please meet one of Peachy's personal favorites on Instagram, LEON!
Leon Yano
(As told to Whom You Know by Mari, Leon's Mom.
Lucky for us, Mari is a professional interpreter.)
Mari:
My mom loved bulldogs but she never had one . Maybe because my brother, who used to live with her, loves German Shepherds, Akita, and Pitbulls. They are all fast runners and powerful dogs. She told me a story that when she was a little girl, she was bullied because she wasn't able to go to school. She was mentally challenged, and her only friend was the neighbor's bulldog. When she was hit and got bruises all over her body, it was the bulldog who gave her kisses and hugs, and when they didn't want to play with her, it was her bulldog best friend who gave her company. She always told me that bulldogs have the biggest hearts. Suddenly, one day, "bam!" she dropped on the floor and was hospitalized for brain hemorrhage, and the right side of her body was all numb, and her tongue was hanging from her mouth. She was in very low spirits and very depressed, so I've decided to give her what she had always wanted, a bulldog. I even had a small fight with my brother about giving her a bully, but then I continued searching for a bulldog that looks like her best friend, and bulldogs here in Japan are much more rare compared to the U.S. I had a hard time finding the right bulldog, and as much as possible, I wanted a rescue dog for my mother. One day, one of my friends told me that a small group of people are doing volunteer work, and they take care of stray dogs that had been surrendered, and I found Leon, who was a rescue dog's puppy.
They were planning to give him to a wealthy, nice couple who wanted a bulldog puppy, and the couple had promised them that they would give them enough cash to sponsor two or three dogs. I got down on my knees and begged; the leader wasn't there, and an assistant was alone, and she finally said yes. I quickly prepared Leon's things because I was worried she would change her mind. And took him to my mother. She was trembling with excitement and crying because she thought Leon was her best friend. She kept on calling him Leon, which was her best friend's name. She never let go of him, holding him in her left arm. After a couple of hours, when I was driving home, I got a call from the hospital. I was told that my mom left us and she died holding Leon in her arm, with tears in her eyes. Leon fell on the floor after my mom took her last breath, damaging his knees. His kneecaps sometimes slip off which is painful, making him crawl. Leon was exactly three months old when my mom died.
For a couple of hours, she had a best friend again, and I never saw her that happy. I only wish I had given her a bulldog many years ago. I still feel really guilty. Having a bulldog as one of the members of the family is first for us. Honestly, we haven't heard him bark yet. Not even once. He loves to play with handmade toys, made of wood, that my husband makes for him. And he lies down on his belly and bows whenever it's time for snacks.
A few months ago, when we were at the park, we saw some elderlies taking a walk and they all got so excited when they saw Leon, very quiet, he let them pet him, cuddled and rubbed his belly. They told me that he could be a good therapy dog, and now he is. He does some volunteer work three times a week at elderly homes, and he visits the elderlies in our neighborhood, and when called, he visits elderlies in other neighborhoods too. I, myself do volunteer work too. I run errands for my neighbors, I'm the youngest and most of them are in their 90's. I go to the doctor's office to get medicine, and to the big supermarkets to buy some groceries and supplies for them. Leon is always here with me whenever I do volunteer work. I'm pretty sure he does volunteer work almost every day.
Because of his knees, he can't do long walks, and he can't run for more than two minutes, he can't get on or off the bed by himself, he can't use the stairs, he can't do exercises, he can't jump, that's why he rides his wagon most of the time . But nothing can stop him from doing what he likes best, giving the elderlies kisses, warm hugs, and friendship.
Happy National Dog Day!
Follow Leon's adventures on Instagram!
It is worth it to open an Instagram account just to follow him.
For everyone that loves soccer, check out his picture today! We love it!
If you are a pet with a great story anywhere in the universe that reads the internet and speaks English, tell your human to write peachydeegan@gmail.com with your full biography and headshots in jpeg attachments...we will publish the best!
