When people see animals in need, our first instinct is to help in any way we can. This is especially true for Jenny Desmond, the co-owner of the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue group. As a devotee to animal rescue, there was no way Jenny was going to leave this puppy helpless on the streets. After noticing the dog was in poor condition, she took a leap of faith in order to nourish this puppy back to health.
The Helpless Puppy Was in Poor Condition
Jenny Desmond instantly felt inclined to help bring this puppy back to life somehow. It was abandoned in the streets and no one seemed to care about his well being, so how could she not intervene?
It was up to Jenny to help this poor puppy.
The Puppy Needed Urgent Care
Jenny Desmond and her husband, Jimmy Desmond, were only qualified to help chimpanzees in their rescue group, but they took this puppy into their care as well. According to their values, no animal is discriminated against from getting help from them, and this puppy was no exception.
They decided that this pup was in desperate need, and they were going to be the ones to help him.
The Puppy's Condition Was Worse Than They Thought
After they took the puppy in, they start to examine him further. He was much worse than they anticipated. The puppy had worms and was sick with a fever from being left outside. Being he was abandoned, he was severely underweight from the lack of food. They also noticed that he had severe infections on his skin and eyes.
Jenny's first course of action was to take him back to their facility, so he could have a good environment to recover in. But, she could not do so without the villagers putting their two cents in.
Jenny Was Forced to Argue With the Villagers
Believe it or not, the villagers were angry with Jenny for taking the puppy away. Even though they were not caring for it at all, they still retaliated against Jenny taking him. She instantly fought back saying, “You see he’s been eaten alive,” as she proceeded to point out the various scabs covering his weak body.
Jenny furiously questioned the villagers saying, “You want me to leave him here and he’s gonna die?” Still, the villagers were not letting up. Rescuing this puppy was going to be harder than Jenny thought.
Jenny Promised Never to Let This Puppy Back in that Village
In a video of Jenny speaking to the villagers, she asked if they would like her to bring the puppy back once it gets better. But, she only said that so they would allow her to take the dog away.
Later in the video, she was heard saying, “I’m not bringing him back. I’m just saying that.” She would never let the puppy return to the village after the trauma they put him through.
They Thought That Saving the Puppy’s Life Might Be Hopeless
Jenny found this puppy just in time. She says he wouldn’t have made it even 2 more days if he was left in the village. After taking the puppy in, they found lots of damage. There were patches of fur that were completely missing, and his skin was covered in sores and dirt.
His symptoms weren’t good, but Jenny still was not giving up. She was determined to give this puppy the life he deserves.
They Gave Him a Bath (Probably His First Ever)
After getting back to their rescue sanctuary, the very first line of action was to give this puppy a bath. Jenny and another colleague gently scrubbed the dirt out of the puppy’s fur, and tried to remove any dirt and bacteria that was harming his skin.
This process was second-nature for Jenny. Jenny’s colleague said, “She’s rescued a lot. She rescued chickens, she rescued grasshoppers, owls… she’s rescued a lot of things.” Jenny was an advocate for helping animals in need, and she never leaves any animal behind that needs her help.
They Named the Puppy Snafu
For the first couple of days at the rescue sanctuary, the puppy was still struggling. He could not find any strength, and he was still very weak.
But, he unexpectedly made an admirable recovery with the help of the Desmonds. They decided to name him Snafu. His recovery was on the right track, but there were still some things to take care of.
The Healing Process
After getting the dog cleaned up and back on his feet, he still had some treatment to go through. This is where Jimmy Desmond came in. Jimmy specializes in emerging diseases and the illegal wildlife trade. Therefore, he has studied firsthand the diseases affecting these animals.
Jimmy administered a treatment under the dog’s skin that would be absorbed into the body. This helped heal the infections that spread throughout the pup's body. If they wouldn’t have saved it when they did, these infections would have probably ended the dog’s life.
Snafu Started to Digest Muscle
Because of Snafu’s lack of food, he actually went into starvation mode. His body was not receiving the nutrients it needed to survive, so it started feeding off of his muscle. In order to nourish his body back to health, the Desmonds made sure to give him lots of nutritious food.
Snafu was clearly malnourished. As soon as the food was placed in front of him, he would devour it almost instantly, begging for more. It was clear he was not being fed in the village.
Snafu Started To Grow Back His Missing Fur
After about 5 days of being in the sanctuary, Snafu finally began to grow back some fur. When they first rescued him, Jenny said, “He didn’t even look like he had fur or hair.” When they first found him, there were patches of skin that were clearly infected, instead of healthy fur growth.
It was clear that Snafu was making a quick recovery after being given the basic necessities to live.
Snafu Began to Look Like a Completely Different Dog
As the days went by, Snafu kept showing clear signs of progress. “Every day we kind of felt like he was getting a little bit better but with most animals that we rescue, there’s a day when they kind of take a turn,” Jenny said. She hoped that day would soon arrive for Snafu.
One thing they knew for sure: Snafu was definitely a different dog after only a few days of being at the rescue sanctuary. He was finally starting to get his confidence back and play like normal dogs. Slowly but surely, he was regaining his health.
Snafu Faces the “Cone of Shame”
Snafu had multiple sores and open wounds that were still infected. So, once he began to regain his energy and playfulness, he was forced to wear the “cone of shame” to ensure he would not lick any wounds on his body.
He wasn’t sure of the cone at first (like most dogs who have to wear it), but it was only to ensure his recovery was on the right track.
Snafu Made Friends with the Chimps
Even with the protective cone around Snafu's neck, he still wanted to interact and socialize with everyone around him - including the chimps! He got along with the older dogs in the sanctuary as well. He didn’t mind sharing food, and he loved to make friends with his other animal buddies
The chimps took on a nurturing role with Snafu, cuddling him and even carrying him down the stairs.
Snafu Grew Up With the Rescued Chimps
Under the Desmond’s care, Snafu not only began to heal with his treatment, but he also began to grow in size. Within a year at the sanctuary, he grew to the full size of a healthy dog!
At this point, Snafu had made a remarkable recovery. He was eager to play and socialize with the other animals in the sanctuary, but his story does not end here.
Snafu’s Future Was Uncertain
After spending about a year in the rescue sanctuary, Snafu was a whole new dog. He made almost a full recovery, and he was playful and with a strong personality - all thanks to Jenny and Jimmy Desmond.
However, the Desmonds realized that they couldn’t continue to care for Snafu for much longer. New animals needed their help, and there was not enough space in the rescue facility.
The Life Snafu Deserved
When animals come to the rescue sanctuary, the Desmonds never want to turn them away. Most of them spend their whole life being taken care of in the sanctuary. But, the Desmonds realized that their focus was on saving chimpanzees.
They needed to find Snafu a new home where he could live a better life. They were determined to find a way so that Snafu could have the best life possible under the best care.
The Desmonds Were Unable to Give Snafu the Life He Deserved
Jenny and Jimmy fell in love with Snafu. He had grown up in their care, and they were very attached to him. They wanted him to have the best life possible.
Because they cared so much for him, they knew they couldn’t give him the love and care that he deserved. With all of the travel they had to do for the rescue group, they could not leave Snafu behind, but they couldn’t bring him with them either. Luckily, they found the perfect solution.
Jenny's Nieces Stepped Up and Adopted Snafu
Jenny came up with the perfect solution for Snafu. She asked her sister’s family in Colorado if they would adopt him, and they welcomed him with open arms. Jenny confidently said, “He’s moving to Colorado to live with my nieces and he’s gonna have a great, wonderful life.”
“Look at him, he’s cute, happy, [and] fat.” Snafu had made huge leaps in his recovery since that day she found him helpless on the side of the road. She hoped that Snafu would thrive in his new family.
Snafu’s New Life in Colorado
Snafu had made a strong connection with Jenny and Jimmy at the rescue sanctuary. They hoped that he could make the same connection with his new family.
Luckily, that was the case. Snafu absolutely adored his new family. They gave him so much love, and he especially loved the attention he got from Jenny’s young nieces. And it was all because of Jenny and Jimmy Desmond’s sympathy and kindness. Get ready for another inspiring rescue story...
Homeless Poodle Refuses Help From Rescuers
Every animal deserves to feel loved and cared for. Unfortunately, there are tons of strays that have been abandoned and have no family to care for them. They are left on the street to fend for themselves. This was the case for this stray poodle named Yankee.
Yankee was living on the streets of Los Angeles for an extended period of time. He was discovered by a group of locals, but he refused to let anyone help. Whenever anybody tried to help him, he would run away.
Yankee Had Been a Los Angeles Stray For Quite Some Time
Yankee the poodle had been a stray dog living in the streets of Los Angeles for a while. No one knows just how long he had been there. Locals had seen him wandering around, but he refused help from anyone.
It was very clear that Yankee was not in good health. He was visibly struggling, and there seemed like there was nothing the locals could do to help. He would often hide in a hidden alleyway away from everyone.
Yankee Was Too Afraid of People to Accept Help
Many locals knew about Yankee’s situation. They knew he had trouble warming up to people. So, they tried the best they could. They brought him food and water every day which he would eat when the coast was clear.
Some locals tried to catch Yankee, but he would always run away or go back into the alleyway. It was very clear that Yankee needed some help, but the locals were running out of options. No one knew how to help.
Yankee’s Health Began To Further Deteriorate
As time went by, the locals kept feeding him and making sure he was okay. But one day, they noticed he stopped coming out to eat. He seemed to have lost any energy and he mainly only slept in his alleyway.
The locals couldn’t see him like this. He was on the verge of passing away, and they needed to find a way to help. So, they called Hope for Paws.
Hope for Paws Came to Help
When Hope for Paws received alert that there was a stray poodle, they instantly came to the rescue. They found Yankee in his usual spot in the alleyway, and they saw that he was giving up, and wouldn’t last much longer if he wasn't taken in.
Although Yankee was very sweet, he was very timid around strangers. So, it took him a while to warm up to the people at Hope for Paws.
Yankee Was Unsure of the Rescuers
The people from Hope for Paws approached Yankee in the corner, hoping to catch him so they could help. He didn’t move at first, continuing to lay in the corner of the street. But when they started to put the leash on him, he quickly retreated.
Yankee didn’t trust anybody, so how could he trust these random strangers? After all, he didn’t know that they were only trying to help. The people from Hope for Paws needed to build some trust with Yankee.
They Finally Coaxed Yankee Out of the Alleyway
The Hope for Paws crew had lots of experience working with stray dogs. Luckily, they knew just the right techniques to get Yankee to trust them enough for them to put the leash on. After some trial and error, they were finally able to walk him out of the alleyway.
Even though Yankee was still skeptical of these people, he trusted them enough to let them take him, which was great progress for Yankee.
The Hope for Paws Crew Carried Yankee to the Rescue Van
Knowing that Yankee could escape back to the alleyway at any moment, the people from Hope for Paws scooped him up and carried him to the rescue van.
On the way to the van, a woman walked up and started to pet Yankee on the head. She was local to the area, and she had seen Yankee walking the streets for a while. She even tried to help him a few times. She was so happy to see he was finally in good hands.
They Checked Yankee for Any Noticeable Injuries
After getting into the van, the Hope for Paws team began to check Yankee for any apparent injuries. Remarkably, Yankee had no significant injuries, which is surprising given that he was stray for quite a while.
But, one thing they did notice is that Yankee was in desperate need of food and water. He looked malnourished, and he definitely needed a bath. Even though Yankee was very nervous, the Hope for Paws team did their best to make him feel more comfortable throughout the process. His anxiety showed, as he was visibly shaking in the person’s arms.
Next Stop: The Rescue Hospital
While on the way to the rescue hospital, they tried to get Yankee settled in the van. However, he was very timid and unwilling to go in certain areas, so it was difficult to get him into a crate or anything. After some coaxing, he was settled in the back of the rescue van, and he was ready to go.
On the car ride to the hospital, everyone made sure Yankee was as comfortable as possible. They petted and soothed him, and it even made Yankee open up a bit.
Yankee Slowly Started to Warm Up to the Hope for Paws Team
In the back of the van, Yankee felt comfortable going into the crate, but only if the door was left open. The trust was still building between Yankee and the team, but it was getting there. About halfway through the car ride, Yankee came out of the crate and onto the passenger seat to hang out with the team.
From his actions, the team was confident Yankee was making progress, and that he would completely warm up to them in no time.
It Was Time for Yankee to See the Vet
Now that Yankee was somewhat settled with the team, it was time to take him to see a veterinarian. The most important thing was to make sure Yankee had nothing seriously wrong with him.
Even though he looked okay on the outside, they did not know if he had heartworms or some other serious disease. The team at Hope for Paws were all hoping for the best.
Thankfully, Yankee Got a Clean Bill of Health
Everyone was so happy and thankful to know that Yankee got a clean bill of health at the vet! He didn’t have heartworms or any other serious diseases, which were huge concerns, since he had been abandoned for so long.
But, one thing Yankee did need fixing was his fur. His fur was seriously matted and filled with dirt. He was in serious need of being groomed and having a bath.
The Team Realized Just How Serious Yankee's Trust Issues Were
The team knew Yankee had some trust issues from the start, but they had no idea how bad they were. The volunteers left the veterinarian office with Yankee, and they took him to go get groomed.
As the groomers started to clean Yankee, his trust issues were made abundantly clear. But they had seen stray pups like this in the past, so they knew this is the behavior of a dog who has been neglected.
Yankee Hadn’t Received Any Affection His Entire Life
The Hope for Paws team had worked with many stray dogs, but none were quite like Yankee. A lot of stray dogs are scared and timid of human interaction because they have been neglected, but they soon realized Yankee hadn’t even received any human affection his entire life.
This poor pup was never properly loved, taken care of, or socialized, so no wonder he was terrified of humans. This left the crew absolutely heartbroken.
Yankee Started to Open Up and Become More Trusting
When the team from Hope for Paws brought Yankee to the rescue hospital, he was very timid. The pup continued to shy away from strangers, but he still wanted help. So, he began to open up.
Yankee started to become more trusting of these strangers because he knew they were there to help him. This was one of the first moments in Yankee’s life that he had received true, loving human interaction.
Yankee Began to Flourish
For the next few weeks, Yankee spent some time at the rescue hospital. They helped him recover from the trauma of being abandoned. After a month, Yankee made a full recovery. He was now being fed the proper food and water, and he started to play with humans and other dogs.
Now that he has recovered, given the basic necessities to live, and has been acclimated to the normal life of a dog, it was time to find him a foster home.
Finding Yankee a Foster Home
The team from Hope for Paws and the team from the rescue hospital were all surprised by Yankee’s quick recovery, and they were excited to find him a foster home. Since he was nursed back to health successfully, he didn’t need to be in the rescue hospital any longer.
Yankee was given to a caring and loving foster home from the Rescue From the Hart organization. At this foster home, he met a young boy who gave him lots of attention and loved to play with him. Yankee was clearly very happy at his foster home.
Yankee Transformed Into a Whole New Dog
It is amazing how much of a difference can be made in such a short amount of time. A few weeks prior, Yankee was wandering the streets of Los Angeles with no food or water, and he wouldn’t let anyone care for him. Now, he was thriving in his new foster home.
Thanks to the people who helped him, he was given the opportunity to finally be taken care of properly, and he could finally receive the affection he deserves.
Yankee Finds His New Best Friend
After being placed in the foster home, Yankee instantly connected with a young boy who lived there. He loved to play with him, and the boy gave him lots of affection.
With a new human best friend, Yankee was thriving and loving his new life. This allowed his personality to finally shine through. Also, he had his own backyard to run around and play in all day long!
Turns Out, Yankee is Incredibly Photogenic Too!
Yankee sports the biggest smile with his best friend, and you can see in his face just how happy he is. This Yankee is completely different than the dog he was before. Now, he is happy and very thankful to have the wonderful life he has been given.
His foster home turned into his forever home after he made best friends with the young boy. He would finally have a family that would give him all the affection and love that was missing all his life.
Yankee Transitioned Perfectly Into His Forever Home
Some dogs have a hard time transitioning into their new home. After being neglected for so long, there can still be a lack of trust there. But, this was definitely not the case for Yankee.
Yankee transitioned perfectly into his new home with the help of his new best friend. Over time, he even began to be more social. He was truly the perfect addition to this family.
Yankee’s Before and After
The before and after shots of Yankee are heartwarming. Going from a hesitant dog on the streets who wouldn’t let anyone near him to thriving in his new forever home, this poodle has definitely made a striking transition. All he needed was a healthy environment and a loving family.
Thanks to the help of Hope for Paws, Yankee is incredibly happy and healthy. He is extremely grateful that the team gave him a new chance at life.