I think most of us can agree that animals are truly extraordinary.
They’re loyal companions, devoted protectors, and they fill our lives with unconditional love. It’s no wonder people often surround themselves with furry friends.
But for some, having a few pets at home simply isn’t enough. Many dedicate their lives to rescuing, healing, and advocating for animals in need. One such person is Izaiah Perkins, a young man whose compassion led him to work at the Maryland SPCA in Baltimore.
A True Calling
To Perkins, dogs are more than just animals — they’re family. He wanted to give as many as possible a fighting chance at happiness, which is why he joined the shelter team.
“The dogs remind me a lot of myself. They have good days and bad days, general preferences, and favorite people, just as we do. There’s a sense of comfort when I go in and see them all, almost like I belong right there with them,” Perkins told Newsweek.
Not long into his job, Perkins came across Nola, a three-year-old Pit Bull. Before arriving at the shelter, she had survived as a stray, wandering the streets in search of kindness.
But life at the shelter wasn’t easy for her. Nola had behavioral issues, so Perkins was limited in what he could do. He could clean her kennel, give her enrichment items, and slip her treats through the door — but direct contact was restricted.
“When I first met her I noticed how wide her eyes were, it’s what drew me to her. She didn’t wag her tail or come to greet me like most dogs at first, instead, she stayed stiff with fear,” he recalled.
A Difficult Reality
Perkins soon realized why Nola was kept under such close watch.
She didn’t handle the shelter well at all. The constant barking, clanging, and commotion heightened her anxiety until she became almost frantic.
“Her wide eyes were a result of being under constant stress. They almost never relaxed,” he explained.
Many dogs manage to adapt, but for pups like Nola, the environment only worsens their condition.
“Some dogs can adjust to the chaos of the kennels, but dogs like Nola seem to just deteriorate. The behavior staff did everything they could, and displayed incredible patience and love with her,” Perkins said.
Unfortunately, time didn’t heal her wounds. On the contrary, her mental state declined. Nola eventually lashed out, adding bite incidents to her record, which further complicated her future.
Still, Perkins refused to give up on her.
“We would just stare at each other for up to ten minutes. There would be moments where I swore I broke through to her, where I could see her eyes soften just for a second, or a quick tail wag,” he shared.
The Hardest Goodbye
Despite everyone’s best efforts, Nola couldn’t find a foster or adoptive home. In the end, the shelter staff had no choice but to make the heartbreaking decision to euthanize her.
For Perkins, the aftermath was devastating.
“Part of me told myself she’d be back and she was just out on a walk, but reality quickly set in. I try not to think too hard about the ‘what ifs’ because all we really have is the moment and I can’t save them all. Her memory is alive in all of us… It’s a shame she reached that point,” he said.
The most difficult part of his work, he admitted, is walking back into a kennel once filled with life and finding it empty.
Nola’s story is a painful reminder of how much our choices as humans impact the lives of animals. A lack of responsibility, whether through neglect, abandonment, or poor training, often pushes dogs into situations where they suffer needlessly.
“The kennels and what goes on in them is the result of human negligence. Responsibility is the key to avoiding putting dogs like Nola in stressful situations that will deteriorate their chances at a normal life,” Perkins emphasized.
Dogs, by nature, want nothing more than a safe home and someone to love them. When they’re provided with stability, structure, and kindness, they thrive. But when they’re left in chaotic or neglectful circumstances, they may never get the chance to show who they really are.
While Nola didn’t get the happy ending she deserved, she did have one person who truly saw her — who looked past the fear and the aggression and recognized her as a soul worth fighting for. And in that, she will always be remembered.