A regimen of treatment followed, lasting a few weeks and alas, some of Sebastian's black hair came back. I, among other volunteers and workers, took him under my wing and walked him every day. He became vigorous and frisky and showed some of the spunk that has made him the happy dog he is today. We learned that he had good manners. He sat when asked. When he wanted a dog biscuit he was asked to "speak," he sat down, looked at you with those black intense eyes and barked a few times. One biscuit was never enough so he sat and barked some more. None of us could deny him and he always got seconds.

Volunteering seven days a week at the shelter upon my retirement, Sebastian would anxiously await my arrival. When he saw me he would go into his "speak" routine. He also knew who at the shelter had treats for him and would pull me to where the workers were located and perform his routine of sit and speak to receive his reward.

Sebastian has an array of winter coats in every size and color, some bought by me and others donated by volunteers and friends of the shelter. He would look regal in his black and white tuxedo-like coat or elegant in his beige sheepskin coat. In his red shiny satin coat Sebastian looked like one of Santa's helpers. No matter what type he wore – he looks proud in all his outfits. His caretaker Darlene always puts one of the donated blankets in his cage. He was so happy he kept wagging and wagging his long tail.

One day, while at the shelter with Sebastian, I noticed that the tip of his tail was missing. I showed him to Almira, the shelter manager, and she lovingly medicated and wrapped his tail. A few days later the wrapping came off and his tail looked worse and smelled badly. It was decided that Sebastian would be better with his tail docked. All through this he was still wagging his sore tail. I said, "Sebastian, stop wagging your tail you have no reason to be so happy – you live in a shelter, you're not adoptable and your tail needs to be amputated." He still kept wagging.

We decided to raise money to cover the cost of Sebastian's surgery. We had lots of help. Volunteers were willing to contribute. One of our new volunteers, Shauna, a teacher at the Hastings middle school successfully raised money from the donations of her students at the Farragut Middle School to cover the entire cost of surgery.

It's now a little over two weeks since Sebastian's surgery. The stitches came out and he has a cute stump of a tail. He looks like a lab in front but almost like a pointer from the back. He still wags his little stump but he can't hurt it any more. He still sits and speaks to get his biscuits, wears his red coat for walks, and I think his black hair is growing in a bit.

I would love to see Sebastian either adopted or live long enough to move to the new Yonkers Animal Shelter, but we are short of funds for iys completion. Private and corporate donations are needed to speed up the process.

If you would like to see Sebastian move to the new Yonkers Animal Shelter – you can help. You can donate any amount you feel you can spare – please click here.