Wally used to hang out in the Wal-Mart parking lot, takinghandouts from passers-by, following the security truck and sleepingin whatever warm, dry or comfortable place he could find.

He wasn’t terribly social, though there were people who wouldcheck on him to make sure he was fed and taken care of. But therewere even more people who would kick at him, attempt to hit himwith their cars, and shoo him away when he would try to get throughthe doors into the warmth or the air conditioning just inside thedoor. He even had buckshot in his ear, though nobody’s sure justwhen he was shot.

It’s a tough life for a dog.

Roxanne Norton, one of the store associates who did her best tomonitor Wally’s welfare, said the poor little guy had been througha lot. She said he was different than other dogs that have comethrough the parking lot, because he was wary of people. Exceptone.

“The security guard, John Stewart, would feed him, and he’dfollow the truck everywhere it went,” she said. “When the truckwould stop, he’d lay down and wait for it to move again.”

Wally grew on people, Norton said, and finally a group cametogether to try to make a better life for the pup in the parkinglot.

“We decided to get him off the streets,” she said. “We had tosedate him to catch him because he wouldn’t come to us.”

So once Wally made it to the vet for a cursory checkup beforegoing to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League, he was found to haveheartworms. BARL didn’t have the resources to have him treated, socrestfallen, Wally’s human friends took him back to the parkinglot.

Then there was more bad news. Stewart, who had been Wally’sfavorite companion, was transferred. Glenna Mayberry, the newsecurity guard, said Wally looked sad to lose his friend.

“And she said she had to stop some kids that were trying to hithim with a stick,” Norton said, and that was the last straw.

“I went to some of the other associates and said, ‘If we can getthis money up, BARL will get him in for treatment,'” she said.

Norton and her friend Tracy Earls said that within two days,Wally’s friends had put up the funds to fix his heart. Betty Moodygave $300, and Terry Sutton, Sharmain Lofton, Norton, Stewart, andMayberry all chipped in the rest. Then came the matter of catchinghim again. This time, he was smarter, and it took almost sevenhours.

Meanwhile, Norton decided to take Wally home to foster himthrough the two months it takes to treat a dog for heartworms.During that time, he has to be kept as still and inactive aspossible, but Norton said he has plenty to watch, even if he can’tplay just yet.

“Now he lives with a teacup chihuahua, a dachshund, a pitt mix,and a Brookhaven special – that’s a little of this and a little ofthat,” she said. “And they’re all women, so he’s living like aking.”

It’s a better life for Wally right now as he waits to be sent toBARL. Norton said he’s got presents under the Christmas tree andeverything. When his treatment is over and he’s allowed to run andplay with other dogs, he’ll be sent to BARL to await a permanenthome.

“But if I can’t find someone I can approve of to adopt him out,I’ll probably keep him,” Norton said, which drew a funny look fromher husband, Trey.

“I didn’t hear about that,” he said with a laugh.

It’s just 30 more days until Wally is back to normal, Nortonsaid. He has to stay fairly inactive during that, but then he willmake a great pet for someone, whether it be the Nortons or someoneelse.

“It’s tough, but he’s going to be fine,” Norton said.