Forever Home Files: Lolo, Ivy, Tyson, and Frankie
Possibly the best part of our work is seeing a dog who was once sick, scared, and struggling in a shelter end up living their best life in a loving forever home. When we first share our Hansel Help recipients, they’ve just been rescued and often look completely different weeks or months later after receiving the care they deserve in a foster or adopter’s home. It never ceases to amaze us how much of a difference proper care and love can make. The four pups featured here are prime examples of that — they were each saved by a different amazing rescue supported by Hansel Help. All of them had special medical needs, making financial support especially important. We’re honored to share and be a small part of their happy tails!
Lolo from Perfectly Paired Pitties
We originally gave PA-based rescue Perfectly Paired Pitties (aka P3) a grant for the medical care of the too-cute, social-media famous, and still adoptable(!!!) Doc, but thankfully his medical needs were not as extensive as feared. That means P3 was able to use their Hansel Help funding for the care of more pups saved from Prince George’s County, MD, where there is strict BSL and dogs labeled “pit bulls” must be rescued and adopted outside the county. One of them was this 6-year-old brindle beauty rescued in May; Hansel Help supported some of her remaining medical bills. Sarah from P3 shares "She was pulled from the PG urgent list [and] within a few hours of being in foster, we found out she couldn't breathe and took her to the ER where she was diagnosed with double pneumonia, a collapsed lung, and a broken tooth. Lolo has been undergoing treatment since. having X-rays every few weeks along with a variety of antibiotics. We finally got the OK in September that she could have the surgery to remove the tooth and be spayed, making her finally eligible for adoption."
During this process, she spent time in an amazing medical foster home and moved to her foster-to-adopt family when she was no longer contagious. In October, when she was finally healthy enough to be officially adopted, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Her new family includes two bulldog siblings and humans who adore her and take her on the adventures all shelter dogs deserve.
Ivy from Laila’s Legacy
All of our recipients are special, but Ivy’s story is truly miraculous (and newsworthy — she was covered by Newsweek a few days ago!). She was one of two dogs with medical needs the amazing Laila’s Legacy Animal Rescue was able to pull from Prince George’s County shelter in Maryland (a county with strict BSL — pit bull type dogs must be rescued or adopted outside the county) thanks to their grant. Likely a stray, she came to the shelter — and stayed there for four weeks — emaciated and with stress-induced skin issues. But the real miracle?? This tennis-ball-loving, strong lady has a microchip that was implanted 19 YEARS AGO. She definitely doesn’t act her age, and so she wasn’t treated as a hospice case. After 113 days in a loving foster home, Ivy found her forever family. The Laila’s Legacy team says “stories like this are what inspires us to continue each day” and shared the following from her new mom:
“She is settling in very well. Each day she is more relaxed and exploratory. She is such a happy dog, so loving and trusting. She is a great office buddy during the day. She is eating well, enjoying walks, and playing in the backyard. Can’t say enough about Laila’s and her foster parents. Ivy is a fabulous girl.”
Tyson from AmsterDog Rescue
We pledged some Hansel Help to support Tyson at the Brooklyn ACC last winter, and he was soon saved by the amazing AmsterDog Rescue! His previous family described him as “the best” but could no longer pay for medical care for his skin issues. Despite some patchy fur and skin, Tyson was reported to be a bouncy, happy 2-year-old who had been friendly with kids, other dogs, a cat, and even lizards and snakes in the house.
He now looks like a totally different dog with treatment for his dermatitis! His new mom adores him. Tyson is so lucky to have had two families love him and a rescue that believed in him!
Frankie from California Bully Rescue
Frankie was found wandering around in a parking lot in San Jose, covered in motor oil. He deserved a fighting chance and California Bully Rescue stepped up to save him, even though the petite bully needed a $20k heart surgery. We are honored to be one of several foundations and donors who chipped in to save his life and help his story have a happy ending despite the odds. He’s lived with his new family for several months, but was cleared by his heart surgeon for official adoption last month. ❤️
