When two sad tales come together it can end happily, as it has for the Turshens and their newest dog, Posy.

Posy is not the 8-year-old pitbull mix’s first name; she once went by the name Valentine. Although the name brings forward a connotation of love, Posy was named Valentine because that was the day her old family brought her to be put to sleep, according to Sarah and Mark Turshen.

Posy is a special needs dog. Her two front legs are malformed and twisted outwards. Her past family in Louisiana decided they no longer wanted her and felt that an adoption process would be too burdensome. On Valentine’s Day they brought her to the veterinarian, who refused to put the sweet and gentle pup down.

She was sent north through a partnership between CASA and Mutts4Rescue, both rescue agencies, to find her forever home. She was one of more than 300 dogs at the Always Adopt Day event at Balise Toyota, June 7.

Sarah has always loved dogs. Growing up, she always had one and she even fostered dogs for a few years before adopting one, Otis. Her husband, Mark, had always wanted a dog growing up but never did and said he truly came into his own as a dog-lover by being with Sarah. Together the couple had two dogs, Oliver, a bulldog, and Otis, the foster pug who became family.

Several months ago, after a 9-month battle with heart failure, Oliver passed away. Now, Otis, who is somewhere between 13 and 15 years of age, is both blind and deaf with only two teeth remaining.

Without another canine friend, Sarah said Otis wasn’t faring well, he seemed depressed and whenever the family would leave the house he wouldn’t move until they returned.

Sarah began looking up adoption options online when she found the Always Adopt Day event and pre-registered.

She arrived at Balise a half hour early to a line that was out the door. Walking through the Balise Toyota garage, Sarah had her eye on a few dogs, but when she went to meet them they would be so excited and jump up.

The Turshens have two children, toddler Charlotte and infant Nate. Sarah wanted to make sure she adopted a calmer dog that would be good for the small children.

While everyone else was running to see the puppies and dogs excitedly reached out to possible adopters, she noticed Posy across the way, “laying down and just waiting for the chance for a belly-rub.”

Initially, Sarah had not seen the twisted paws but automatically fell in love with the gentle Posy.

“I knew because she was older and had bad legs most people wouldn’t give her much attention, and, well, I’m a sucker,” Sarah said.

Louise Nicolosi, founder and organizer behind Always Adopt, said, “It takes a special person with a special heart to see the perfect puppy behind disabilities.”

Posy became one of the 325 dogs adopted, a record for the Always Adopt event, and went home with Sarah that day. Nicolosi said that by the end of the day every dog with disabilities had been adopted.

Immediately, Posy and Otis were friends. The Turshens said that the two can often be found snuggling together.

Sarah said, “Otis is younger again with his new friend.”

Posy, Charlotte and Nate get along just as well.

The young Nate climbs over an unflinching Posy and Charlotte plays doctor with her new dog, listening to her heartbeat and helping to give her “medication” in the form of petting. Posy takes the attention with what could only be called a smile.

Although a little shy, Charlotte nodded enthusiastically when she was asked if she loved Posy.

“Posy is just amazing with our children. She’s just so kind and gentle,” Sarah said.

Although he couldn’t attend the adoption event with his wife, Mark said he knew to expect Sarah to come home with an older or special needs dog.

In her original home, the Turshens learned she slept outside in hay, so when they invited Posy up on their bed with them the first night she looked at them like they “had two heads.”

Now, Posy has no problem joining the Turshens.

Sarah said, “When you take in an older animal or an animal with special needs you can see in their eyes just how grateful they are.”

“They are the most appreciative animals,” Mark said. “Many of them have had a hard life and when you do give them a good home they don’t take that for granted. They understand how lucky they are.”

With the Turshens, Valentine became Posy.

They felt Valentine had a negative feeling to it, being the day she was supposed to be put down and wanted to give the dog a “happy and fresh new start.” They felt posy, a small bunch of flowers, reflected the dog’s gentle and sweet nature.

Posy still has some treatments left. She is being treated for heartworm and has a tumor on one of her front legs that needs to be removed, but the Turshens are happy to provide for the medical needs for their new dog. They said the adoption agency had offered to help with some of the costs for Posy’s medical needs, but the Turshens declined.

The couple knows, after fostering dogs before, that adoption agencies often don’t have the funding they deserve.

Mark said, “They have better places to put their money towards and Posy is going to be ours for the rest of her life. We have no problem paying for her medical needs.”

Sarah said she wished that more people would open up to the idea of adoption instead of going to a breeder.

Nicolosi said that once people rescue dogs and see how good and appreciative they are they often wouldn’t do anything other than adopt.

“They know they have had a hard life and have been through a lot and they will love you every day for saving them,” she said.

“Thousands of great dogs are put to sleep across the country every year because people think a breeder dog is better, but that’s just not true. Adopted dogs are just as great,” Sarah said. “As far as I’m concerned, we got the pick of the litter.”

And it’s a happy life for two dogs that otherwise wouldn’t be here.

Always Adopt will host another event, Saturday, November 7, at Clark Farms in Matunuck.

For more information at www.alwaysadopt.com