When Rachel Fusaro arrived at Southern Oregon Humane Society in Medford, Oregon, where she volunteers, she met Daffodil and learned her backstory. The heavily pregnant doggo whose owners abandoned her needed a loving home where she could safely deliver her babies. The rescue staff wasn’t sure whether Daffodil was used for breeding, but it was…
Once at a high-euthanasia shelter, very few dogs ever get the chance to walk away into a happy ending. Due to overcrowding, these four-legged furballs don’t receive the treatment they need, let alone have a proper chance to meet a future family. Penny, a senior pup, was one of those dogs. After suffering for most…
Unlike hoomans, our four-legged friends don’t have full control over their time. In fact, many shelter dogs live on a scheduled (and limited) timeline, hoping to get their chance at life before it’s too late. And, once it’s too late, that’s about it. Their journey ends in only one way. Recently, Sandy, a beautiful forty-pound…
Some people truly take dogs for granted, especially shelter pups. Little do they know that what they see as a casual visit or a trial adoption means the whole world to them. Duke, also known as Meatball, experienced this firsthand. After being overlooked at the Indiana shelter for so long, this eighty-pound Terrier mix finally…
Getting to know a dog isn’t a picnic. It takes time to learn their likes, dislikes, fears, triggers, behavior, and everything that comes with it. That’s why shelter dogs, especially those with past trauma, are often misunderstood and overlooked by potential adopters. They are frequently mistaken for aggressive or ‘broken,’ when, in fact, they are…
For street dogs, clinging together is close to brotherhood. You don’t have siblings. You don’t have a safe shelter. You don’t have anything that even remotely reminds you of stability. All you have is your furry friend who means the world. That’s why it’s particularly heartbreaking to watch street pups part ways during rescue missions….
I don’t think I need to remind anybody anymore that animals have emotions, too! Just like we hoomans can feel overwhelmed, confused, and even exhausted from constant change, so can they. Sometimes, though, they have it way harder than us. We can at least make ourselves believe that everything happens for a reason, but what…
One thing I will never understand is how some people perceive dogs merely as breeding machines. Once they’re done ‘producing,’ their owners simply give them up or take a much worse step: abandonment. Terrible! Sadly, this is the harsh reality of many dogs that once had a home and now have nothing. Lottie, a beautiful…
The job of an animal rescuer is filled with the profound satisfaction of giving furry friends a second chance, but it certainly isn’t easy. Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect is finding animals abandoned in the most tragic ways. Just imagine: you’re going about your regular activities when someone points out an old, destroyed cardboard box,…
You can’t force dogs to be loving friends. The best you can do is work on their socialization skills, and that’s about it. But forcing love? That’s a big no. It either happens or it doesn’t. The good news is that a dog’s love sometimes has a hidden agenda. It may not come right away….
Tom and Jerry, while cute and arguably one of the all-time favorite kids’ shows, definitely didn’t do justice to dog-cat friendships. So, don’t let the ultimate stigma deceive you – dogs can live with cats, and cats can surely live with dogs. All they need is proper socialization. Nellie and Crush don’t just do “living.”…
Maria’s life was anything but easy. This sweet girl had so much to give, yet her previous owners threw it all away. Instead of embracing her loving nature and sweet spirit, they abandoned her in the most brutal way. Sadly, Maria was discarded in an alleyway like trash. Her condition was far from good. She…
Losing a pet, even for only a few hours, is a traumatic experience. Now, imagine the heartbreak Bishop’s owner had to endure when his four-legged buddy was stolen on a subway in New York City. Shocked to the core, the owner desperately scanned the entire area, but to no avail. He lost all track of…
Only dogs truly understand what it feels like to be in a cold, dark place without the chance to experience human touch, let alone a hug or anything more. Life in a shelter can be like that, and in some cases, even worse. Unfortunately, more and more of our furry friends are ending up in…
Pugs are lovely creatures. Not only do they make incredible lifelong companions, but they are also the embodiment of all-day entertainers! Who wouldn’t want them nearby to brighten their day or cheer them up when times are tough, right? Sadly, not everyone shares this sentiment. One owner, in particular, was so cruel that they abandoned…
Dog ownership is a beautiful thing, but it definitely isn’t all roses and sunshine. It takes a lot of effort to properly train your furry companion, and even then, you just need to accept some of their quirks. I’m talking about a Husky’s drama, a Corgi’s loud barks, a Chi’s bossy personality, and a Hound’s…
A new puppy can bring a lot of joy, but for Dino the Dachshund, his excitement over a new sibling may leave you quite shocked. Dino, who already has a loving family, with owners Aitor Fungairiño and Yaneth Ibrahim, quickly bonded with Luka, a puppy they recently adopted. But, there was one little thing Dino…
The more I spend time with dogs, the more I realize they’re nothing but love-craving, comfort-seeking babies. And, I know I’m close to the truth just by looking at Rudy. Just seeing this sweet, well-behaved pup trotting down the New York shelter hallway in his emotional support blankie makes my heart break. The sadness runs…
Is there a better life for a dog than to spend its entire life in one home, next to a loving owner? While this is a sweet reality for many, Roxanne, a thirteen-year-old Boxer mix from Georgia, didn’t have that luxury. Just when it seemed that she would get to enjoy the rest of her…
Dogs and toys. You can’t really perceive one without the other, right? They cling to their toys, play with them, hold onto them, and sometimes even make them their sleeping buddies. For dogs, toys are an unavoidable part of their identity. And, if one dog has used toys more than anything else, it is Wilson……
Suzette Hall, a dog rescuer from Southern California, has seen it all. She has rescued stray dogs, saved abandoned ones, and tended to severely injured pups. Hall has also found homes for dogs in need and arranged vet treatments for pooches with underlying health problems… and yet, she remains stunned by heartbreaking cases on a…
The job of a dog rescuer isn’t easy, but it is an immensely rewarding experience to see a pup who was once in need thrive after a successful rescue mission. Kelly Russel and her fellow volunteers at a Texas rescue group knew this, so when they received a disturbing call about a dog stuck in…
Keke loves a casual stroll down Hudson Yards. One day, the views almost blew him away – literally! This teeny-tiny Pomeranian canine was casually soaking up the scenery when a New York City wind tunnel appeared, giving this sweet long-coated pup an unexpected “blow-dryer treatment.” In this case, however, Keke wasn’t so thrilled to receive…
I wondered what made Toby so unwanted that his previous owners decided to part ways with him. It wasn’t his aggression because he’s the sweetest dog ever and doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. It wasn’t that he was unfriendly because Toby doesn’t do hostility. So, what was it? Then, I learned it…
Carlyn Foreman, a foster from New York, has always been fond of dogs. However, no dog stole her heart like Norman did. Foreman had been a Waldo’s Rescue Pen volunteer for the last few months when she saw a photo of this sweet Pitbull mix at a Georgia shelter. He was desperate to escape the…
Unfortunately, in the world of animal shelters, first impressions do mean a lot. For many pups, that first – and sometimes only – glimpse a potential adopter gets can truly seal their fate. Shelter visitors don’t usually spend too much time with each dog, meaning that the pups only have one chance to stand out…
Unfortunately, the neglect of animals can lead to serious issues with the health of your furry friends. Whether it’s their teeth, fur, or even nails, we really need to make sure that the health of our animals is our number-one priority. For Norma, sadly, there were no hoomans who made sure she had everything she…
If you ever find yourself looking for a good thrifter, then look no further because I have the perfect one – Juliet Motyka. She is interesting, funny, and has been all over the country in search of the perfect thrift find to share with her followers. However, she pretty much outdid herself when she stepped…
All you need is one shot at happiness, and that’s about it. At least for dogs! Squeem was as unhappy as he was tiny. Abandoned and forced to roam the streets of Oregon in hopes somebody would eventually find him, he had every single odd stacked against him. Plus, he weighed only two pounds. Yes,…
There’s nothing more adorable than seeing a litter of tiny puppies cuddled up next to each other. Clumsy, enthusiastic about everything in life, and simply delightful in their playful expressions of love for one another, they embody cuteness. But, what happens when they grow up and part ways? Do they remember their beloved and lost…
When an adorable pug named Maple took her first little steps outside of her crate, she had no idea what to think – all she knew was that she was extremely overwhelmed. However, after spending her first three years of life on a breeding farm in Iowa, she finally found herself safe and sound in…
Even though I can’t really read their minds, I’m pretty sure that the wish of every pup out there is to have a fun, loving family. Not only does this ensure them a roof over their head and yummy food in their bowl, but it also gives them something that allows the world to keep…
Few things can compare to the joy of saving a dog in need. You see a pup, you embrace it, and as a final act of kindness, you welcome it into your loving home. Truly precious! However, saving a dog isn’t only a rewarding experience. It can also impact lives in unexpected ways. One Georgia…
One Golden Retriever equals endless fun. Two Golden Retrievers? I don’t even have the words… The truth is, you’ll never get bored with this breed. Get tired? Yes. Sometimes, even overwhelmed? Sure. But bored? Never! Lacey MacFarlane from North Carolina knows this all too well. Having her two Goldies, Cooper and Tucker, by her side…
What is the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear “Golden Retriever?” Is it a floppy-eared, long-coated Golden pup running freely in a field or retrieving a ball from the water? Or, is it a social pup with the friendliest smile, trying to befriend everyone in the park? Or, perhaps a Goldie…
It takes years of experience and keen intellect to solve crimes, but some things are pretty obvious. When officers of the Roseville Police Department in California arrived at headquarters, they were ‘shocked’ by what they saw: a crime scene featuring the “lifeless” body of a stuffed animal and one culprit peeking from behind a wall….
Many people fail to understand that dogs are living beings, too. They are not just objects that we use and then return or discard when we no longer need them. Sadly, this is exactly the philosophy that many heartless breeders live by. They treat dogs as breeding machines, producing puppies that they sell at high…
What I always found so interesting was the fact that no matter how different their species may be, animals will always have something in common. For example, did you know that crows and dolphins are actually master tricksters? Both animals are incredibly intelligent – they know how to use tools, recognize themselves in mirrors, and…
If you ask any animal rescuer what the most important qualities one needs to save animals are, I’m pretty sure that most of them would reply with patience, perseverance, and a little bit of luck. Every rescue mission is unique, and no matter if it is difficult or simple, one thing remains the same –…
When Remi, a six-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier, finally found her forever family, she was definitely the happiest pup on earth. After struggling to keep a family, as she was returned to her shelter multiple times, the sigh of relief she let out when the adoption papers were signed was huge. She was finally able to…
Can you imagine seeing a 15-pound dog being brought to your shelter on a stretcher, all because of people who chose to abuse and neglect her? Me neither! Unfortunately, this is a harsh reality in shelters all over the United States. Due to abusive owners, dogs like Meleys don’t have a decent chance to begin…
My heart breaks every time I see a dog chained to a doghouse, yet for some furballs, that’s just the harsh reality. To make things even more heartbreaking, some dogs spend their entire lives living exactly like that. They don’t know freedom, they never run freely in an open yard, and they never, ever feel…
When a dog spends too much time in a shelter, it can seriously affect their mood and ability to live a normal life. The rescuers who work at rescue organizations try their best to help these dogs, but it’s not always easy. There are a lot of other dogs who also need help and that…
The street is no place for a sweet, innocent animal. Where will I hide? What will I eat today? Will anybody notice my pain and offer me a helping hand? The questions running through their minds are numerous, and not a single one is positive. However, each and every one of them wants the same…
The job of a rescuer, though rewarding, has its heartbreaking sides, too. You never know when you’re about to stumble upon a dog that’s been abandoned, neglected, or simply unwanted. Yet, when that moment arrives, you still have to gather your composure and strive to do the right thing. Roxie, a sweet, black Lab mix,…
Kayaking trips are always fun! Even if you’re not kayaking, there are endless entertaining activities to enjoy, such as soaking up the scenery, exploring nature, and stumbling upon wildlife you have never seen before. Carolina Diz and her partner, Brittany, recently decided to take one such trip to Central Missouri. Little did they know their…
Pitties are cuddle bugs – they just need to be given a chance! Many people don’t see it that way, which is why a plethora of these sturdy bois and girls end up overlooked in shelters, completely let down by the world, and waiting to be euthanized. Izzie was definitely one of those dogs. After…
Dogs are innocent and lovely furry creatures who deserve to be immensely loved and cared for. It’s heart-wrenching to hear harrowing stories about dear canines who had been abandoned when they needed care and protection the most. Cowboy, the hero of our following story, was in urgent need of medical care. And yet, he was…
When a Good Samaritan was walking through a very rural area of Hudson, Wisconsin, admiring the fallen leaves that were completely covering the ground, they thought it was going to be just another regular day. However, by the corner of their eye, they spotted a strange brown and black ball among the leaves. Upon further…
How many times a day do you wish your dog could talk? A million, if you ask me! Imagine how those conversations would go… all the emotions and happy memories conveyed in actual words! But, what if I told you it also goes the other way around? What? You’ve read that right! Even though we…