In July 2024 South Bend Animal Resource Center in Indiana reached out to us, hoping we could help an extra special dog. Laurel, a one year old terrier mix, had been left tied up outside an abandoned home, she was struggling just to survive. At only 24 pounds, she was extremely malnourished, only skin and bones—the intake photos of her broke our hearts. While we are always limited on space, funds, and resources, we knew we had to try to help her.
We put the call out for a foster, and to our surprise, someone amazing stepped up right away. They took Laurel in, giving her what she needed most: love, safety, and food. Our vet, Dr. Kantola crafted a specialized, very limited diet plan to avoid refeeding syndrome. Slowly but surely, Laurel started to transform. Her first week was spent catching up on much needed sleep, but then she started to learn how to be a dog again. She started playing, wagging her tail, and enjoying every little thing—whether it was a comfy nap or just soaking up the sun. Laurel wasn’t just surviving anymore—she was finally living.
Seeing the change in Laurel reminds us why our local partnerships are so important. We can’t do this alone, and neither can the dogs who need us. Thanks to our friends at South Bend and our incredible foster families, dogs like Laurel get the second chance they deserve.
Fosters are the real heroes here. They’re the ones who show dogs like Laurel that there’s more to life than just trying to make it through another day. Today, Laurel is a healthy, spunky dog looking for a loving home.
If you want to be part of more stories like Laurel’s, get involved! Whether it’s by fostering, donating, or spreading the word. Together, we can keep helping dogs like Laurel learn to love life again.