We often don’t realize just how much love a stray can give until they’re given a chance at a real home. And once they finally find it, they hold onto it with everything they have.
For Lakita, an American Bully, life had been nothing but a struggle. Heartlessly dumped by her first owners, she was left to fend for herself on the streets of Kentucky.
She spent months roaming around, scavenging for scraps, and hoping that someone kind might notice her.
But when her strength was gone, Lakita curled up near a stranger’s porch, lying down on a pile of trash and simply waiting for tomorrow to bring something different.
The next morning, that miracle finally arrived — at the very last possible moment.
On The Brink Of Collapse
Tracy Korfhage of MisPits And Friends Rescue in Louisville, Kentucky, got a call from a woman who had spotted a weak, lifeless dog near her porch.
Tracy usually avoided street rescues, as they could be dangerous, but something about this case felt urgent. The caller insisted the dog didn’t have much time left, so Tracy followed her instincts and drove out immediately.
What she saw crushed her heart. There was Lakita, curled up on garbage, barely holding on. The poor pup smelled terrible, her body frail, and her spirit seemingly gone.
She had given up — but Tracy hadn’t.
Together with a colleague, Tracy carefully lifted Lakita and rushed her to animal control, giving her supposed owners a final chance to come forward. Of course, no one did.
A Stunning Recovery
That’s when Tracy decided to foster Lakita herself. And soon, a transformation began that nobody could have predicted.
Within just two weeks, Lakita had gained 14 pounds. The once frail and hopeless dog started running in Tracy’s backyard, playing, and rediscovering joy.
“She enjoys the simple things in life like laying out in the yard sunbathing and enjoying the breeze, chewing on a bone, or napping,” Tracy shared.
Over the next few months, Tracy worked patiently with Lakita, teaching her basic commands and how to walk politely on a leash.
Though she remained selective around other dogs, she showed no aggression and was ready to start her search for a forever home.
There’s Hope
Tracy and her team dressed Lakita up in a festive outfit and shared her story online. The pictures quickly went viral.
“She lives for food! She even dances at dinner time… Did we mention she loves to model on the side,” her caregivers wrote on Facebook.
Among the many people touched by her story, one couple stood out. Sebastian and Ashtyn Garrison instantly felt that Lakita was meant to be theirs.
The couple arranged to meet Lakita, and from the moment they did, everything clicked. She warmed up right away, especially to their children, and it was clear she had found her family.
Lakita was overjoyed to finally be surrounded by love. Playing with her new siblings and snuggling with her parents, she quickly adjusted to her new life.
With the Garrisons by her side, Lakita left behind her painful past. Today, she’s a happy, affectionate dog who finally knows what it means to be safe, cherished, and home.
Lakita’s journey from despair on a pile of trash to a beloved family member is a reminder of how powerful compassion can be. Sometimes, all it takes is one person arriving at the right time to turn everything around.