When Dawn, a rescued pit bull, first met the Rockdale County Animal Shelter staff, she was exhausted from the trauma she’d just survived. Authorities had rescued Dawn early in the day after discovering her tied to a crate outside a neglected home with no food, water or sun protection.
She entered the shelter hoping to get some rest but had no time to get comfortable.
The shelter was overcrowded, meaning Dawn could only stay for a few weeks at most. Still, Dawn fell head-over-heels for her new caregivers. One day, while the staff decided her fate, Dawn showed her new caregivers how much she loved them.
“As she was being taken to the back as the only survivor from a state cruelty case, she stopped and hugged the volunteer,” Rosa Fond, founder of Humans and Animals United, Inc. (HAAU), told The Dodo. “The shelter volunteer fell in love with her.”
As the days passed, the pressure to relocate Dawn increased. Every time someone walked past her kennel, Dawn would stand on her hind legs and press against the door, a desperate plea for someone to notice her.
“She was begging for her life,” Fond said. “But no one stepped up, and I’m guessing it was because of the way she looked. Maybe people thought she would be aggressive.”
Thankfully, someone from the shelter reached out to HAAU just in time to save Dawn.
“They knew that we would be able to give her the life she deserved,” Fond said. “We had no time, literally hours, to come up with a plan.”
HAAU exhausted all its resources to locate a foster family willing to take Dawn in and arrange transportation to get her there. They were beyond relieved when, the next day, Dawn settled into her new foster home for a much-needed nap.
Dawn was physically and emotionally drained from all she’d endured. The resilient girl had a long road to recovery ahead, but luckily her foster parents were dedicated to helping her feel like herself again.
“When we first rescued her, she was shut down — scared but sweet,” Fond said. “The poor girl was in such rough shape.”
Dawn’s foster parents adhered to a strict feeding schedule to help the pup regain a healthy weight. They cuddled her while she slept and supported her as she began to explore the world around her. Before long, Dawn’s true personality started shining through.
“Dawn has the best foster family,” Fond said. “She has opened up since we rescued her.”
One day, when Dawn was finally feeling better, her foster dad surprised her with a trip to the pet supplies store. He watched in awe as Dawn scoured the toy aisle with unbridled joy, sniffing every last item on display. She couldn’t contain her excitement while picking out multiple toys to bring home.
“She picked her own toys,” Fond said. “It was a heartwarming moment that brought tears to our eyes. The reason why we rescue was shown that day.”
You can watch that moment here:
Dawn is still in foster care today, thriving with her new favorite toys and beloved caregivers.
HAAU is still on the hunt to find Dawn’s forever family, but until then, they’re comforted knowing that the once-desperate shelter dog is now safe and sound in a loving home.
