Patience’s journey was anything but easy.
Two years earlier, she seemed to have it all, a joyful shelter dog in New Jersey with a forever family ready to take her home. But in less than a year, her adopters gave up on her, leaving Patience with nothing once again.
This time, she didn’t cling to the hope that brighter days would come. Instead, she shut herself off completely. She spent her time pressed into the corner of her small kennel, her body turned to the wall, unwilling to face the world.
Her caregivers were heartbroken watching her retreat so deeply, and they tried everything they could to lift her from despair.
A Heartbreaking Scene
Patience’s condition caught the attention of volunteers from SNARR Northeast, in New York.Seeing her sit with her back to the world, desperate to disappear, was more than they could bear. They knew she needed help right away.
“In a crowded, chaotic city shelter in New Jersey, Patience sat alone, facing the wall, frozen with fear,” SNARR Northeast wrote on Instagram.
But when they learned the full story, it hurt even more. Patience wasn’t just withdrawn, she was mentally broken. She couldn’t even raise her head to look at anyone who might pass by her kennel. Instead, she kept her head low, weighed down by sorrow.
“She’s shut down, mentally defeated, and lost. Patience doesn’t look at anyone because she doesn’t believe anyone sees her,” the rescue added.
After once finding a home, Patience was later discovered alone and badly injured on the streets of New Jersey. No one knew exactly what had happened, but her caregivers suspected she had been struck by a car.
She had suffered a spinal injury, and her vision was damaged. Now, she could only see straight ahead, with no peripheral sight left.
Even so, the team at SNARR Northeast refused to give up on her. They knew she needed a calm, secure place to rest and begin again, so they searched carefully for the right foster home.
At last, they found one that fit her perfectly.
A New Chance For Patience
No one could have expected such a broken dog to change so quickly. But with time, patience, and gentle care in her foster home, Patience began to show who she truly was.
She revealed a playful, cheerful side, a pitbull who cherished every moment spent with people who gave her love and safety.
Patience will soon begin her neurological treatment.
In the meantime, she is discovering the simple joys of life in a warm home surrounded by people who understand her. And best of all, she will never again have to face that lonely kennel wall.