It’s heartbreaking to imagine the number of dogs who’ve spent their entire lives mistreated, never knowing the comfort of unconditional love.
Trixie was one of those dogs — full of affection, but with no one in her life who truly deserved it.
Instead of giving her the love she longed for, her previous owners confined her to a cage, robbing her of joy and freedom.
Even through years of neglect, Trixie’s spirit remained unbroken. She held onto the hope that one day she’d experience what it truly meant to be loved.
And when her owners moved away, leaving her behind, it was the beginning of the life she had always dreamed of.
Finally Free
Thankfully, rescuers soon discovered Trixie and gave her the freedom she had waited so long for.
Heartland Animal Shelter in Illinois stepped in and took her under their wing.
When staff first laid eyes on her, they were heartbroken by what they saw: a neglected pup missing fur, with “duck paws” caused by long-term caging.
Trixie struggled with stress and showed reactivity toward other dogs, making shelter life especially difficult for her. She needed a loving home — and fast.
That’s when David Nulud came across her story while looking to surprise his girlfriend, Nikolai Therese, with their first dog for her birthday.
Scrolling through the shelter’s listings, he saw Trixie and instantly felt a connection.
Once she arrived home, it didn’t take long for Trixie to bond with her new mom. Therese and Nulud were determined to help her thrive, and showered her with all the love she had been denied for so long.
Trixie was finally free.
“The first few days when we got her home it felt like she just took a deep breath and just decompressed. She just took a big sigh of relief that she was finally somewhere safe. She was home,” Nulud told GeoBeats Animals.
Her new family hand-fed her and treated her with compassion. They were committed to earning her trust and helping her become the carefree dog she was always meant to be.
Through patient training and loving attention, they helped ease her anxiety and reduce her reactivity toward other dogs.
Soaking In The Love She Was Denied
Thanks to their endless patience and support, Trixie began to blossom.
A joyful smile soon returned to her face, signaling the start of a new chapter in her life.
She adored being close to her new parents, soaking up every cuddle, and basking in their affection.
Trixie discovered the joys of simple pleasures — sunbathing in the garden, sleeping soundly in a warm bed, and waking up to a life full of love.
Her issues with other dogs became more manageable over time, and her new family couldn’t have been more proud of her transformation.
Living The Life She Deserves
Nulud and Therese fell completely in love with Trixie — not just for her resilience, but for her tenderness. They were especially touched by how gentle she was with their baby.
“Our baby’s 4 and 1/2 months old and Trixie has been amazing with him. She’s made us better human beings in a way she’s made us better parents because she’s shown us how to care for her and we consider her our daughter,” Nulud shared.
Although Trixie still reacts to loud noises from time to time — a lingering effect of her traumatic past — she remains an incredibly kind and loving soul.
Her family knows just how special she is, and they feel incredibly fortunate to have her.
“It was one of the best decisions we ever made. She wasn’t the perfect dog but she was perfect for us,” Therese wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.
Today, Trixie enjoys her best life in Illinois. She even has her own Instagram page where she shares glimpses of her daily adventures and helps advocate for other shelter dogs looking for a second chance.