Fantine, a beautiful 11-month-old Sheltie, was forced to suffer through a horrible experience. But unlike the character from "Les Miserables" she is named after, her future is looking brighter and brighter. Fantine was discovered filthy and starving along with four other dogs in a Tokyo apartment at the end of April. They had been abandoned to die, and when the tenant was tracked down by the real estate agents, her only words were a cold, uncaring "Get rid of them." The dogs were all friendly and gentle and Fantine, begging for affection, immediately came over and put her paws on the legs of her rescuers. It was touch-and-go for Fantine, but she, along with three of the other dogs (two Great Pyrenees and a corgi) made it. The fifth dog, another Sheltie, didn't. Incredibly, Fantine adores people and seems none the worse for her ordeal. She isn't skittish. She is gentle and quiet — really a lovely dog that will be happy with trustworthy company and comfort she can count on.

If you are interested in adopting Fantine, email ARK at [email protected] or call 050-1557-2763 Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Tokyo ARK is an NPO founded by Briton Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are requested to undergo a screening process.