Politics & Government

Ferdinand Finds Forever Home

Newington couple adopts the Branford Animal Shelter's beloved Rottweiler Ferdinand.

Almost a year to the date, Branford Animal Shelter’s beloved Rottweiler Ferdinand has found his forever home.

New owner Agatha Tilford of Newington says she and her husband Wayne Tilford felt it was love at first sight.

Late this week Agatha said, with Ferdi by her side, “He is sitting here right now with a big smile on his face.”

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The Tilfords have had Ferdi since Jan. 29 and he comes to them after their three-year-old Rottweiler-rescue Belle, passed away this September. Though young in age, Agatha shared that Belle endured much stress and neglect prior to her ownership, which added many years to her life.

All told, the Tilfords have owned six Rottweilers – four of which were rescued.

Find out what's happening in Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Though those at the Animal Shelter called nine-year-old Ferdinand the gentle giant, the giant part of his name is what kept most potential adopters away. His need for lots of space and food coupled with his age made him difficult to be adopted out, shared shelter director Laura Selvaggio Burban.

Lucky for Ferdi, none of those things deterred Agatha.

“Don’t you know... I looked at Ferdi and said, ‘who is going to adopt a nine-year-old dog?... The Tilfords!’”

Agatha has gotten most of her Rottweilers with the help of friend Paula Carlson who is now a New Hampshire resident. She was a Rottweiler breeder in West Simsbury prior to moving.

Knowing her friends had recently lost Belle, Carlson sent the Tilfords a list of 11 Rottweilers looking for homes. Ferdi, was the one Agatha knew had to be theirs.

“It was love at first sight,” said Agatha.

After three weeks at their home, Agatha said Ferdi is well adjusted. “He loves watching the squirrels in the bird feeder from our picture window.”

Agatha adds that she spends time daily giving him physical therapy as he has undergone multiple surgeries after getting hit by a car when he was abandoned.

Ferdinand came to the shelter on Jan. 21, 2011 after being found hit by a car in North Branford. Burban details that he received three surgeries –one for a busted-up knee, one for his toe, which had to be removed (also because of the accident) and one surgery for a huge liquid-filled tumor in his groin also which occurred because of the accident.

Many local businesses such as Tommy Sullivan’s as well as East Haven schools and Branford schools did fundraisers specifically for Ferdinand’s recovery.

Ten-year-old Carley Burgess, a fifth-grader at Branford's Francis Walsh Intermediate School raised $85 in a local campaign specifically to help Ferdi.

Over the year at the shelter, Ferdi has been Pet of the Week in both Patch and The Sound Newspaper and he was also featured on WTNH News 8.

“There was an outpouring of support for Ferdi because he is such an amazing love bug with such a gentle heart,” said Burban.

Made for each other, Agatha said between herself, her husband and Ferdi, they’ve had four knee surgeries. “Ferdi fits right into this household with people with spare parts.”

Content to let Ferdi live out the rest of his years at their home, Agatha said her only request is to know more about his past. “I wish he could tell us his tale,” she said. “He must have been someone’s beloved pet at some time.”

He certainly is now. 


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