Few experiences are more heartbreaking for a dog than being abandoned by the very people they trusted most.
Imagine spending your whole life surrounded by warmth, familiar voices, and comfort, only for it all to disappear suddenly.
The familiar safety of home vanishes, replaced by concrete, fear, and solitude. This was the reality for Lucy, an elderly Labrador wandering the streets of Mississippi.
For weeks she evaded everyone, slipping past every attempt to catch her. She was frightened, cunning, and deeply heartbroken. One determined woman, however, refused to give up on her.
A Cautious Senior On The Streets
One afternoon, Lane Bounds was leaving her gym when she spotted Lucy lingering alone in the parking lot. She called softly, but the senior dog bolted.
Days later, Lane saw her again, this time curled up outside a nearby bank. Lucy’s trembling body and cautious gaze revealed her lack of trust.
“Leaving the gym, I noticed an old stray in the parking lot. Days later, I found her sleeping in the bushes at a local bank,” Lane wrote in a post titled Lucy’s story.
Determined to help, Lane searched for any information about Lucy. She posted online asking if anyone knew her, but no one came forward.
She also set humane traps with food, yet Lucy outsmarted every attempt.
“I made posts looking for her owners with no luck. She outsmarted all traps, but I just knew I had to help her,” Lane explained.
Lane then tried a new approach. She brought her own dog, Delta, to Lucy’s hiding spot, hoping the presence of another dog would make her feel safe. It worked.
Gradually, Lucy approached Delta, eventually allowing Lane to hand-feed her and step into the car. The breakthrough moment had finally arrived.
Lane took Lucy home to foster her until a permanent solution could be found. The timid Lab received comfort, food, and gentle care.
At the vet, Lane discovered Lucy had once belonged to a family. When she contacted them, their response was crushing. They did not want her back.
That painful rejection strengthened Lane’s resolve to foster Lucy, giving her the stability and love she had been missing.
From Timid To Treasured
Within weeks, Lucy began to change.
She bonded with every member of the household and quickly became part of the family. She adored Lane and her husband, played with Delta, and formed strong ties with the children.
“After over a week of trying to trap and rescue this girl, and now spending two months fostering her with amazing potential offers for her betterment, I just could not imagine Lady Lucy being anywhere else than here with us,” Lane shared on Facebook.
Lucy finally felt safe. She rediscovered love, enjoying naps, cuddles, and family adventures.
Her mom summed it up beautifully: “Everyday we try to give her a life and love that helps heal whatever went wrong in her past, and I’m still not sure how we ever lived without each other. Lu is now a healthy 75+ pounds and by far, the most loyal creature I’ve ever met.”
After all the fear, confusion, and isolation, Lucy’s journey reached a joyful chapter. She is thriving in her forever home, cherished exactly as she is.
Her mom shares updates on Lucy’s life on TikTok.
This sweet senior now lives a life filled with love and happiness.