Chelsea Elizabeth Cossairt viewed Clementine’s portrait online just two days before she was put to sleep.
Animal control had discovered the scrawny puppy roaming the streets of Southern California weeks before. She was placed on “death row” at the shelter because of her severe health concerns, but something in the little snapshot called to Cossairt’s heart.
So she applied and received a response almost immediately.
Cossairt told The Dodo, “The worker at Ginger’s Pet Rescue was shocked and in tears that we were interested in her.” “She said that out of the hundreds of dog adoption applications they’d received in the preceding two weeks, none had been for Clementine.”
Clementine had a long and unpredictable path ahead of her in her current state, according to the rescue worker. Cossairt, on the other hand, was well aware of her. She continued, “She had sad, empty eyes.” “Whenever we came over to her or near her, she never glanced at our faces and lowered her head.”
Clementine, on the other hand, trusted other dogs and gravitated toward her new furry siblings, Moose and Maple, right away. Cossairt caught a glimmer of the joyful dog Clementine may become at that moment.
Cossairt explained, “She sought solace in being near them and moving with them as a pack about the home or yard.”
Clementine began to feel better and quit trembling after numerous vet visits and months of therapy for illnesses and allergies. She even summoned the bravery to confront her human parents.
Clementine’s new favorite thing has become looking lovingly at her mother seven months later.
“She likes to look us in the eyes as we pet her, and she’s extremely attentive when we talk to her,” Cossairt said. “She’s still suspicious of new people, and we may scare her if we move too rapidly or approach her from behind, but she’s gone a long way.”
Clementine is like a different dog now, full of curiosity and fun, as if she’s reliving puppyhood for the first time. Most significantly, she now feels secure.
“When we work from home, she lies at our feet and enjoys belly massages after finally revealing her tummy to us for petting last month,” said Cossairt. “We assume it’s her way of investigating and understanding out what things are when she ‘boops’ everything in sight. She looks so much like a puppy that we sometimes wonder if she was ever a dog. If you don’t pat her or stop caressing her, she’ll nudge your hand.
Clementine has gone a long way since her adoption, and she’s no longer the fearful dog who faced the walls. She now would do anything for her family, and they can’t imagine living without her.
“She’s such a nice and gentle young lady, “Cossairt said. “We could see right away that she simply wants to love and be loved. She is protective and loyal to us, and she follows us around everywhere.”
