No Kill Kern is a rescue in the Bakersfield, CA area, and the name says it all – they’re a no-kill facility. Because of their no-kill reputation, they’re relied upon by locals to do everything they can to help dogs in need, and frequently receive calls about strays. With one of those calls began the story of Queen, who had a long road to travel before she found home.
It can be difficult for a human rescuer to earn the trust of a stray dog, especially a feral dog who has never had any human interaction. That’s where No Kill Kern’s mascot and hero, Lucy, comes in.
Lucy is a sweet Pit Bull that will often accompany the humans of No Kill Kern on rescues. She’s a lucky charm when it comes to earning the trust of frightened dogs. Not only is she an ambassador for her humans, she’s an ambassador for her breed! When No Kill Kern got a call about a stray German Shepherd living alone in a field, they set out with Lucy to see if they could help her.
Lucy immediately went to say hello, but even with the adorable Pit’s help, the dog was too scared to come any closer. After exhausting all the time they could, they decided to cross their fingers and set a trap for her. The next day they arrived to find the skinny GSD sitting in the trap. They very carefully put her on a leash and led her to their vehicle to start the first day of her new life. You can see her rescue in the video below:
But the rescue is only the beginning of Queen’s story.
A foster was found to care for her while waiting for a home, and although she was shy at first, she quickly came out of her shell and began playing and socializing with other dogs! With the help of Lucy and other dogs, she blossomed from a scared stray to a happy, playful girl. Vets discovered a hip problem that would cause her to lose the ability to walk if not treated, but No Kill Kern was able to take care of the issue, and she’s able to run around like the other silly pups.
She and her fosters waited for her forever home to find her, but it didn’t come. She continued to wait, but life had other plans for Queen. Queen had become a wonderful pup, but she could still use a bit of help. She was considered a good candidate for Marley’s Mutt’s Pawsitive Change Program, which pairs inmates with dogs who need to earn their Canine Good Citizenship Certification. Queen was transferred from No Kill Kern, renamed Reina, and was able to continue learning to trust humans, and she changed the life of an inmate while she did.
After living alone in a field, then a shelter, then a foster, then ANOTHER shelter, Reina’s real home was overdue – but it finally came. The perfect forever family found her, and Reina got her happy ending. She gets to live the life all shelter dogs want, with a family who loves her – happily ever after.
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Featured Photo: No Kill Kern/Facebook
