Simone

Three innocent puppies were found squirming around in a dumpster near a church. They were covered head-to-toe in agonizing Demodex mange, and one had an alarming case of Rickets. But we are elated to share that their past struggles are now far behind them; they have healed, found loving homes, and one even got a JOB!

In early October 2024, a compassionate woman was lured by the piercing cries of puppies. When she found them trapped inside a grimy dumpster, she could hardly believe what she was seeing. Estimated to be around 6-8 weeks old, they had been horribly mistreated and then eventually dumped like they were literal trash. Despite being so young, they were suffering from Demodex mange, a distressing skin disease caused by mites. Hurriedly, the woman lifted the sickly puppies out from the dumpster, horrified and heartbroken as she rushed them to our care. 

The moment they arrived at our rescue, we immediately whisked them to our dedicated veterinary team. The puppies' treatment involved weekly medicated baths and antibiotics to relieve their irritated skin and bolster their weakened immune systems. We named them after Olympians to symbolize their resilience and strength: the two males were named Kobe and Phelps, and the female was named Simone.

 Kobe, Phelps, and Simone’s treatment spanned several weeks as we worked around the clock to save their lives. They were provided with nourishing, high-quality food and soothing creams and, as they healed, began to explore and play, no longer weighed down by fear. All three sweetums endured their own tiresome battles, but each and every one of them persevered just like we knew they would. 

Phelps and Simone each made fantastic strides and became ready for adoption in seemingly no time. Their mange slowly healed, soft fur grew, and they gained healthy weight. Socializing them alongside other pups helped them become friendly and well-adjusted pups eagerly awaiting loving homes. It was hard to imagine that these were the same fearful babies we had taken in just a few months earlier!

On the other hand, Kobe faced the challenges of Rickets, which caused his legs to bow out and limited his ability to walk properly. Rickets is a painful bone disease, usually due to a lack of Vitamin D or general malnourishment. Given the state these poor babies were found in, this was sadly not too surprising. They certainly had a hard start to life and were likely not given the food they needed, let alone the care.

Kobe’s legs need to be supported with splints to walk around comfortably. Still, he made substantial progress, regaining strength and showing considerable improvements. While it required more time and support than his siblings, Kobe eventually fully recovered like his siblings and grew into a healthy and strong pup.

We are thrilled to share that all three pups were adopted! But we wanted to take some time to shine a light on Simone’s progress—this sweet girl landed a job! She became the new School Support Dog for the University of Memphis Middle School, helping kids learn and grow. It is truly remarkable that she was once an abandoned puppy on the streets of Memphis and now supports children in classrooms.  Her transformation is incredible; despite her hardships, she is so kind and lovable. We are so happy for her and can’t wait to see all of the amazing things she does with her life!

Your generous donations through CUDDLY have granted Kobe, Phelps, and Simone a second chance at happiness and found them loving homes. Thanks to YOU, these puppies have the new beginnings they deserve. Along their journey, we provided them with much-needed healing, showered them with all sorts of fun gifts, and helped them recover fully. These efforts could not have been possible without the support of our generous CUDDLY community.

We want to scream from the rooftops: THANK YOU! We hope you know just how appreciative we are of you and everything that you have done for animals in need. Together, we are changing lives. ❤️