Oliver

Our beloved Oliver has found the absolute best home, soaking up life alongside another senior Pit Bull and FIVE cats! The journey of getting him there was far from easy, but we did it. Ollie did it, and we couldn’t be happier for him.

Ollie was found trembling at the local municipal shelter, where he was formerly named "Noah". One of our volunteers noticed him crouched down in the corner of his kennel, refusing to eat or drink the entire time he was there. He shuddered from head to toe, wouldn't leave the kennel, or come near anybody. This poor sweetheart had certainly endured some trauma that left him terrified of most people. He was skin and bones with most of his fur missing. However, his photos still called to us. Within his eyes, hope gleamed.

Once we got there, we knew we were his only shot. Ollie was already scheduled for euthanasia the next day! There was no other choice; he was coming home with me. We scooped him up and carried him out of the shelter. This marked the beginning of his second chance.

It took Ollie several months to come out of his shell. In the beginning, the situation was tough. It became clear to us that he had never been a pet—he was likely a guard dog, kept chained up outside and possibly even abused.  His teeth were ground down to almost nothing. His skin, damaged by the sun, was covered in benign tumors that could develop into skin cancer at any time.

And then there were the screams, these heartbreaking, blood-curdling screams that sounded like a baby crying. However, over time, they diminished as he learned to trust us. He began to wag his tail. He began to play. He ran around with other rescue pups. The joy we felt was indescribable.

Heartbreakingly, Ollie’s story hit a few roadblocks. First, he had a few more masses appear, and after some visits and tests, it was confirmed that he had hemangiosarcoma, a highly aggressive tumor in dogs. He had a consultation with an oncologist and underwent prompt treatment. We kept a watchful eye on him, supporting him every step of the way.

Once Ollie had healed, a foster offered him a temporary home. Although she didn’t have a lot of experience, we planned to send over a trainer to support her. Imagine the RAGE we felt when, days later, we got a call that poor Ollie had been abandoned. Thankfully, the shelter offered him a quiet space, as he was obviously so frightened. When we arrived, he came running at the sound of our voices. Our poor boy!

Several months later, a lovely adoption application came our way. She wanted a gentle senior to snuggle with her at home, go to stores with her, and keep her company. We met up with the kind woman at a dog park and sat with her for a few hours as she got to know Ollie. He usually shies away from strangers, but with her, something was different. He walked right up to her, following her around. We could hardly believe it! We knew right away that this was the perfect person for Ollie.

Now, Ollie is soaking up his golden years with a wonderful owner, a Pit Bull cousin, and five snuggly cats. He is fully healed and just living life to the fullest. We couldn’t be happier for this sweet boy. May you have the absolute best life, Ollie. We will always be here, cheering you on and wishing you so much happiness.