No one truly knows what Goldie experienced before she was found wandering the streets of South Carolina and taken to an overcrowded shelter.
From the moment she arrived, she seemed to shut down, standing still as confusion and sadness washed over her. A staff member knelt beside her and softly stroked her, hoping to calm her fear, but Goldie did not respond.
After she was placed in a kennel, the gentle Labrador curled up on a worn blanket, lowered her head, and stared at the wall, as if she had run out of hope.
Days went by and no one came to claim her. Goldie stayed quiet and withdrawn, barely reacting to the world around her. With the shelter stretched for space and support, staff began to consider placing her on the euthanasia list.
A Volunteer Reaches Out For Help
One volunteer could not stop thinking about Goldie’s distant stare and chose to advocate for her.
They reached out to Hounds in Pounds, a New Jersey rescue known for saving dogs at risk of euthanasia. Along with their message, they sent photos and video footage, asking if the team could step in.
Goldie also tested positive for heartworm and needed treatment as soon as possible.
The video deeply affected the rescue team.
“When we saw the video of her staring at the wall, shaking, we knew we had to get her help,” a representative from Hounds In Pounds told The Dodo.
The team moved quickly, coordinating with the volunteer and connecting with a local veterinarian who agreed to take Goldie in on a temporary basis so she could rest and begin recovering.
For the first time in a long time, her situation started to look different.
When shelter staff guided her out of the kennel, Goldie still looked defeated. She did not yet realize that the people around her were working to give her a new chance.
Care, Comfort, And The Start Of Recovery
Now under veterinary care, the gentle Lab is finally receiving consistent attention. She has a soft bed of her own and is starting to settle into a calmer routine.
Slowly, Goldie is beginning to trust again, one small step at a time.
A trainer was added to her care plan to support her confidence and help her feel safe moving through new spaces. The change in her demeanor was noticeable, even early on, as her posture began to soften.
“She gets better each day. She is still shut down but starting to trust. She had her first session with a trainer who got her up and moving with ease, and today she was walking around the clinic with no convincing,” the representative added.
Once Goldie is medically stable and cleared by the veterinary team, she will travel to New Jersey and move into a foster home. That transition will bring her closer to the permanent family she has always deserved.
With time, heartworm treatment, and steady compassion, there is strong reason to believe Goldie can fully heal and find a home where she is loved and protected.