When Frank arrived at his new home, even the simplest movements demanded enormous effort from his little body. The nearly 10-year-old Dachshund weighed 37 pounds, and his belly dragged along the floor as he slowly shuffled from place to place. Walking was difficult, exercise had to be carefully managed, and his future depended on making some significant changes. Yet behind his physical struggles was an affectionate dog who still wanted snuggles, attention, and time with the people around him. With … Read more

Late at night, when the grounds of the Humane Society of Greater Miami were quiet, a tiny Chihuahua named Dolly suddenly found herself alone inside the shelter’s dog park. Someone had lifted her over the tall fence and left her there, where she would spend more than eight hours by herself. The people who brought Dolly may have been trying to leave her somewhere they believed was safe, but the way she arrived placed the little dog in a frightening … Read more

Christina was still learning how to live with the quiet left behind by her beloved dog Benji when another little dog unexpectedly entered her life. Benji, her 10-year-old Bichon and Poodle mix, had died unexpectedly in May, leaving Christina heartbroken after years of companionship. Friends assured her that another dog would eventually come along, but Christina knew grief could not be rushed. When she finally felt ready to open her heart again, she also knew she wanted to give that … Read more

Animal shelters welcome dogs of every imaginable shape, size, and background, but every once in a while, someone walks through the doors who makes even experienced rescue workers take notice. At Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, Florida, that someone recently arrived in the form of 99 pounds of fur named Ruby. Ruby is a 4-year-old Tibetan Mastiff, a breed the shelter doesn’t encounter very often. Beneath all that impressive fluff, however, staff members say they’ve discovered … Read more