POWERGRAMS

PAG E 5 100% CONNECTED Rob Holston's dog has repeatedly defied death. Like the proverbial Timex watch, his heart keeps on ticking. Last October, Rob and his wife, Jane, became "foster parents" to Lazarus, a homeless mixed breed that is a walking miracle. When his owner brought him to a shelter in Ozark in August, Lazarus had already faced his first brush with death. "The dog had been run over by a car. He was all skinned up and bloody, so nobody wanted to adopt him," said Rob, lead lineman, Varnons Crew Headquarters. Rob added that the dog's age, which the shelter speculated was between 4 and 7, was also a count against him. After searching for a home for the dog for about three weeks, shelter workers made the decision to euthanize him. The dog received an injection on Sept. 10. Before leaving the shelter that night, the veterinarian checked for a heartbeat and heard a faint one, which led him to administer a second injection. When the staff arrived the next morning, Lazarus had eaten and was standing in the play yard. The shelter then posted the dog's miraculous story on Facebook. Sonya King, executive director of Two by Two Animal Rescue in Helena, learned the story and agreed to take him. Two by Two is a nonprofit, no-kill organization that cares for stray, unwanted animals until they can be placed in a "forever" home. Naming the dog Lazarus for the man whom Jesus raised from the dead, King sent an email to her organization's volunteers in an effort to find a foster home. "When I saw the email, I didn't think two seconds about taking him," said Jane, who is no stranger to the process. The Holstons fostered their dog, Tucker, before adopting Lazarus. The couple's biggest fear was that Lazarus, Tucker and their cat, Casey, would not play well together. "We took Tucker with us to meet Lazarus to make sure they would get along, and they got along beautifully," said Jane. "Then, our next worry was the cat. But when we brought Lazarus home, he just walked around her and began sniffing the house, so we said he 'passed the cat test.'" Lazarus was still not out of the woods when he joined Rob, Jane and their 17-year-old son, Tyler. He had heartworms and, during recovery, had to be kept from becoming excited. Soon after his arrival, Jane noticed the paw pad on Lazarus's back leg was missing, causing him to limp. He was quickly fitted with a cast, which he wore until the wound healed. The Holstons believe Lazarus may have led a neglected life. He was clearly afraid for the first few weeks and hesitated to move around their house, Rob said. "I think he may have been an outside dog," said Jane. "He wouldn't get on the couch but would just sit on the floor and look up at me. One day, I told Rob to put him on the couch beside me, and I started petting him. For about a week, he would lay stiffly in that one spot on the couch. But now, he feels at home and sits anywhere he wants." Thanks to the Holstons' care and support from Two by Two, Lazarus is fully recovered. He received his last heartworm treatment in January and, with a clean bill of health, will join his friend, Tucker, as a permanent member of the family. "I told Rob all I want for Valentine's Day is to adopt Lazarus," said Jane. "I knew within three days after we got him that I loved him. People like us are called 'foster failures.' We foster dogs, but then we can't give them up." Lazarus has become famous nationwide. Last fall, The Birmingham News, the Associated Press, all of the major television networks, People magazine, YouTube and Yahoo featured his story. Lazarus also appeared on "The Doctors," a syndicated talk show. Although the Holstons both love dogs, it was Jane's desire to reach out to needy animals 18 months ago that led them to volunteer for Two by Two. "I'm asked to save at least 200 dogs a day. When a family like the Holstons chooses to adopt a dog, that means one more dog is saved from death," said King, noting that about eight out of 10 traditional shelter dogs are euthanized. "Our mission at Two by Two is not only to save dogs from going to shelters but also educate people about the importance of spaying and neutering." Rob said despite the ordeal, Lazarus is a happy, playful dog with an "unbelievable attitude." "We are looking forward to Lazarus having a long life at our house. After what he's been through, he deserves it," he said. For more information about Two by Two, visit www.twobytworescue.com. By Carla Davis 5 Alive and Kicking Rob and Jane Holston helped save Lazarus again. VARNONS LINEM AN ADOPTS DOG THAT BECA ME MEDIA SENSATION Photo by Nik Layman

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