Emma couldn’t hold back her tears when she first saw Olive, a trembling dog in a shelter kennel. The reality of Olive’s situation hit hard—she could have been euthanized at any time. “She was brought into the shelter while still lactating from having puppies,” Emma shared with GeoBeats. “[She] just sat there, shaking. It broke my heart.” It seemed likely Olive had been abandoned after giving birth. She clearly had multiple litters, and she was also deaf, adding to the challenges she’d faced. About a year ago, Emma founded Sandy Dog Rescue, and as soon as she learned about Olive’s situation, she knew the rescue had to act fast. Emma quickly secured a temporary foster to get Olive out of the shelter before it was too late.
Despite everything she’d been through, Olive was incredibly sweet-natured. “She’s so happy and friendly,” Emma said, noting how Olive loved to cuddle and was always ready to relax on the couch for a Netflix binge. Olive’s gentle spirit was apparent to everyone she met. She showed no signs of aggression and got along wonderfully with every dog and person she encountered.
After spending about a week with her temporary foster family, Olive moved to a long-term foster home, where she thrived. Her new foster family had both a small and a large dog, and Olive bonded with them immediately. The family went above and beyond, even arranging weekly hikes for Olive with a local dog hiker. This dog hiker quickly became attached to Olive’s playful and loving personality, and before long, he decided to adopt her.
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Now, Olive lives a dream life. She joins her dad at work daily and enjoys regular hikes surrounded by other dogs. Emma couldn’t be happier with Olive’s outcome, saying it’s “literally a dog’s dream.” Olive has transformed from a fearful shelter dog into a beloved member of a pack, living her best life every day. It doesn’t get better than this! To see Olive’s full story, click ‘play’ below.
Toledo, United States.
