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Steve and Terry Soszynski have adopted many rescue pets in their lives together. Above, the Inverness couple sit with Milo, left, and Lulu, and talk about their exploits. Steve Soszynski has recently written a book about some of their stories.

An ern with the ashes of Bubu, Steve and Terry Soszynski’s beloved dog is pictured with a book Mr. Soszynski wrote about rescue animals for which he and his wife have cared.

Steve Soszynski wipes a tear from his eye as he describes his thoughts about his dog named Bubu who died. He says the animal was very close to his heart. At times he still becomes emotional when talking about the animal. His wife Terry sits at right.

A painting of several dogs hangs prominently in the Soszynski’s home. The couple has adopted many animals over their life.

Steve Soszynski holds Lulu, a rescue animal he and his wife care for. He has recently written a book about many of the tales he has experienced while caring for rescue animals.

Steve and Terry Soszynski have adopted many rescue pets in their lives together. Above, the Inverness couple sit with Milo, left, and Lulu, and talk about their exploits. Steve Soszynski has recently written a book about some of their stories.

Every day, Steve and Terry Soszynski passed the local animal shelter on the 35 mile drive to the couple’s pet supply store in Woodstock, New York. Occasionally, Steve would return home with a rescue — much to Terry’s surprise.

“Where’d you come from? How’d you get in here?” Terry said as she walked into a room to find a new furry friend. Despite her surprise, Terry always welcomed the company.

Over the course of their 45 years together, Steve and Terry have rescued 17 dogs and cats together. “We just had this affinity for going and picking up hard cases that needed help,” Steve said.

At their pet store, Woofstock, the couple worked alongside local shelters. Terry helped organize many adoption events and rabies clinics. The community got to know the couple and their work with animals in need.

“We’d come in in the morning and find a box full of puppies or kittens,” Terry said. “People dropped off all kinds of things knowing they’d get cared for,” Steve added.

Steve Soszynski holds Lulu, a rescue animal he and his wife care for. He has recently written a book about many of the tales he has experienced while caring for rescue animals.

Steve and Terry sold Woofstock after nearly 30 years of business – it’s still open today under new ownership. The couple then retired to Florida and settled in Inverness nearly two years ago.

Although each of Steve and Terry’s rescues hold a special place in their heart, Steve had an especially close bond with a dog named Bubu.

Steve attributes this to the time he spent with Bubu in retirement. “He was just a very special, gentle, wonderful little dog,” he said. “He melted everyone’s hearts.”

Toward the end of his life, Bubu was suffering with kidney problems, but seemed to be responding well to treatment. One evening at around 8:30 p.m., Bubu crawled into bed with Steve and made his way under the covers – his usual spot.

At 10 p.m., Bubu came out from under the covers and gave Steve four little kisses. Four hours later, Steve woke up. “I reached around and I realized he was gone,” he recalled, holding back tears.

Steve Soszynski wipes a tear from his eye as he describes his thoughts about his dog named Bubu who died. He says the animal was very close to his heart. At times he still becomes emotional when talking about the animal. His wife Terry sits at right.

Four little kisses – four hours left with Steve by his side. “Like he was trying to tell me something,” Steve said.

After the death of Bubu, Steve decided to write a tribute to their rescues, named “16 Tails of Furry Love: Stories of Our Sixteen Rescue Companion Animals.”

The book details each rescue companion that lived with Steve and Terry over the decades. Steve said writing the book was cathartic as he grieves the loss of Bubu, whom the book is dedicated to.

“I’m still hanging with him in a way,” Steve said. “I can’t help it.”

One of the most compelling stories from Steve’s book is about the couple’s Siberian husky Sasha. Terry recalled a day in 2000, where she had been dealing with a headache all day. She didn’t think anything of it.

Steve went outside to mow the lawn. Feeling nauseous, Terry went to the bathroom. Moments later, she woke up on the bathroom floor and couldn’t get up. Sasha was right outside whining.

As an ex-EMT, Terry recognized her symptoms as a stroke. “I was saying, ‘Sasha, go get daddy.’”

A painting of several dogs hangs prominently in the Soszynski’s home. The couple has adopted many animals over their life.

As Steve passed their home on the mower, he saw Sasha jumping on the glass patio door. “She usually doesn’t do anything like that,” he said. “She was frantic.”

Steve couldn’t figure out why Terry wasn’t stopping Sasha from jumping, so he went inside to check it out. “She ran right to the bathroom door,” Steve said. He opened it to find Terry on the floor.

“She literally saved her life, ‘cause I would’ve been on the mower for another hour,” Steve said.

Terry suffered another small stroke afterward, but since then has made an incredible recovery.

On April 4, Steve and Terry were featured on Tully’s Tails, a segment on ABC Action News in Tampa Bay, where they spoke about Steve’s book.

Steve donates 50 percent of the book’s profits to the Citrus County Animal Shelter. The couple hopes to continue contributing to the community, animals and shelters as much as they can.

An ern with the ashes of Bubu, Steve and Terry Soszynski’s beloved dog is pictured with a book Mr. Soszynski wrote about rescue animals for which he and his wife have cared.

“We’ve had such a sweet reaction from people,” Steve said.

To view their ABC Action News segment, visit tinyurl.com/facebook-tullys-tails. Steve’s book is available on Amazon, Bookaneers Vol. II in Inverness and Grooming by Glenda in Inverness.

Hannah Sachewicz can be reached at hannah.sachewicz@chronicleonline.com or 352-564-2929.

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