The family of a woman who was the first person in Indiana to die in the recent fungal meningitis outbreak is searching for a new home for her dog, Lucky.

Pauline Burema, of Cassopolis, Mich., had a special companionship with Lucky who lived with her until she was admitted to the hospital for fungal meningitis. She was diagnosed with the infection not long after receiving a tainted back pain injection at a clinic in Elkhart. Burema died Oct. 10.

“They had such a nice bond going on,” said Carol Snyder, Burema’s daughter who lives in New Mexico. “He counted on Mom to take care of him, and he gave love back.”

Lucky, a poodle mix, has been staying at Burema’s grandson’s home just north of Union, Mich., but the family can no longer care for him, Snyder said.

Snyder took Lucky for a vet visit before returning to the Southwest to get him up to date on his shots and clean his teeth. She said Lucky, who was adopted from an animal shelter in Michigan, is between 8 and 10 years old and has been neutered. He’s small and a good lap dog, Snyder added. Lucky is housebroken and loves taking car rides, she said.

Whether Lucky gets along with other pets is questionable, Snyder said, but he loves kids and older adults.

“Even when my dad was alive and he had Alzheimer’s, Lucky would spend a lot of time with him, lying in bed or sitting in the chair,” Snyder said. “Lucky would always stay right there with him. He is such a good little boy.”

Snyder said Lucky quickly became her mother’s faithful companion when her father died in August 2010. Now, Snyder said, Lucky needs a new home and new companions. Snyder said people interested in adopting Lucky should email her son and his wife at mrshaskett3@live.com.