At high-euthanasia shelters, very few dogs leave alive, especially when they arrive in poor health. Overcrowding often prevents these pups from receiving the care they desperately need or from meeting potential adoptive families.
Penny, a senior dog, was one such case.
After a lifetime of neglect, she was abandoned at a Los Angeles, California shelter.
When staff found her, she couldn’t move, which landed her on the euthanasia list. What the vets discovered next broke hearts.
Penny’s Heartbreaking Past
All Penny wanted was love, but she never had someone to care for her properly. Abandoned at a high-euthanasia shelter, her chance at a forever home seemed nonexistent.
To make matters worse, Penny was frozen in place. She couldn’t walk, leading everyone to suspect neurological problems.
Luckily, thanks to the Beagle Freedom Project’s program, Save Our Seniors, Penny was offered a second chance.
The California rescue team wanted Penny to experience comfort and love in her golden years, far from the crowded shelter environment. They brought her in, showered her with affection, and took her to the vet for her first examination.
What they discovered shocked them.
The vets feared a permanent neurological condition, but the truth was far simpler and more heartbreaking. Penny was suffering from severe dermatitis caused by years of neglect, which made movement excruciatingly painful.
“Vets feared she was suffering with a neurological issue, leaving her mostly immobile…. But, the simple and heartbreaking truth was that years of neglect allowed a treatable case of dermatitis to become so severe that Penny was unable to move without experiencing horrific pain,” the rescue wrote in the post.
All this time, Penny had been able to walk, but she just couldn’t because of the intense pain. Fortunately, that was about to change.
A Life-Changing Recovery
With the Beagle Freedom Project’s care, Penny finally began to recover. She received medicated baths and medication to ease her pain, helping her regain mobility and start living comfortably.
Penny, once overlooked and neglected, underwent a remarkable transformation.
Her foster parent reported that her past didn’t hinder her spirit. She was able to make friends, enjoy playtime and cuddles, and relax on the couch.
Even after so much past trauma, Penny was still capable of love.
“Even after being failed by humans before, Penny still greeted every member of my household (both human and animal alike) with kisses, cuddles, and trust. It was such a special journey to watch Penny heal!” the foster told the BFP team.
A few weeks later, Penny’s journey took another joyful turn: she was adopted into a loving forever home. This resilient senior pup, now named Eve, finally found the family she deserved.
One thing is certain: Penny, now Eve, is exactly where she belongs and couldn’t be happier.