Manzanita

Manzanita has endured so much, bouncing from shelter to shelter, experiencing horrific tragedy, and undergoing countless tests to determine the root cause of her neurological disorder. Now, we are elated to share that she has finally found a new home. In fact, the adopters flew out from across the country to bring her into their family. Read on to learn how her beautiful story unfolded.

Manzanita once thought she had found her forever family. She was initially surrendered to the Baldwin Park shelter, likely due to her neurological condition. Though, she was lovingly adopted soon after, welcomed in by an adoring family who set out to give her a great life. But sadly, our story doesn’t end here.

To everyone’s horror, tragedy struck. In the still of the night, the family’s home was set ablaze, the flames consuming everything in its sight. Luckily, the family and sweet Manzanita escaped unharmed. But the home, everything the family had, was burnt to a crisp, nothing but ash and soot remaining in its wake. 

They had to surrender Manzanita. They didn’t want to—the decision pained them so much. But it was the only way that they could focus on their loss at hand, rebuild their lives, and ensure Manzanita had a safe refuge to call home. The family called Pasadena Humane, a nearby shelter, desperation lacing their lips. They shelter welcomed their adorable pup without a moment’s hesitation.

The team at Pasadena Humane conducted a PCR panel, which ruled out potential infectious causes like distemper. It was then that they knew that her needs were far more intensive than what they could support. They contacted us, Love Leo Rescue, hoping we could help this sweet girl. Of course, we agreed.

We found Manzanita a nurturing foster to settle in during this jarring moment of transition. We also secured her an appointment with a neurologist who could unveil the mystery of her neurological symptoms. Her personality was so bright that when the day of her appointment came, she charmed everyone at the medical office!

The medical team worked hard to figure out the cause of her neurological issues. They hypothesized that they could stem from genetics, an infection, or other factors, including head trauma, though that seemed unlikely. Specialized blood tests were conducted, and further scans were administered as we waited around, hopeful of an answer. 

Over time, the culprit began to reveal itself. After several tests and lots of patience, the neurologist believed her condition was caused by exposure to a virus while still in the uterus. Treatment was provided immediately, and the neurologist was so confident that they predicted Manzanita would improve in no time—and they were right! In just a few weeks, her fosters saw progress in her coordination and movement. Finally, things were moving in the right direction.

Around this time, a prospective adopter reached out to us about Manzanita. Since she was getting well, she was just about ready to find her next loving home. The interested family, who lived on the other side of the country, were in town and stopped by to meet the lively girl. Two weeks later, they flew back and happily took her into their arms, adopting her and bringing her home.

We are just so happy for this sweet pea. Not only has she recovered from her neurological disorder, but she has found a new home where she will forever be safe and cared for. After such a hard start to life, she deserves nothing more than a place to rest and be cherished! We hope you have a beautiful, happy life, Manzanita.

Thank you so much for making this possible. Your donations at CUDDLY enabled us to keep going and fund Manzanita’s medical treatment and care. Your support helped us find her a new home, securing her a better and brighter future. Because of you, we have the power to change and save lives. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.