‘Ugly’ Shelter Dog Left Heartbroken – She Doesn’t Understand Why No One Wants Her
Meet Dutchess, a loving shelter dog with a big heart, waiting to be adopted.
But every time, people were walking past her, making snarky comments, and she was left heartbroken.
People were judging her based on her appearance. Until one day, someone saw her true value.
A Poor Pup No One Wanted
Dutchess’s story began at Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) where she was surrendered at the age of four.
Source: Orange County Animal Services
Despite her friendly demeanor and big heart, Dutchess faced a significant challenge: she was born with two cysts under her eyes, which affected her chances of adoption.
Potential adopters were often deterred by her appearance, leaving Dutchess to press her nose against her kennel door day after day, hoping for someone to see beyond her physical imperfections.
The hard part for the shelter was hearing the comments made about her:
- “She looks so ugly.”
- “What is that?”
- “What’s wrong with her?”
- “Is she blind?”
- “How much is this gonna cost me?”
- “She’ll never get adopted.”
Source: Orange County Animal Services
Turning Point
The staff at OCAS knew that Dutchess deserved a loving home and took to Facebook to share her story, emphasizing her wonderful personality over her physical traits.
Their post caught the attention of Rescue Dogs Dream, Inc. (RDD), a rescue organization that decided to intervene.
Source: Rescue Dogs Dream
Within just 48 hours of seeing the post, RDD had Dutchess in a loving foster home, marking the beginning of her new life.
“She is doing great and is so happy to be FREE. She scarfed down a McDonald’s cheeseburger and is making herself right at home.” shared RDD in a Facebook post.
She Was Finally Adopted
In her foster home, Dutchess quickly settled in, showing immense gratitude and affection towards her foster mom.
Source: Rescue Dogs Dream
It didn’t take long for adoption applications to start flooding in, and soon, RDD found the perfect match – a family grieving the loss of a pet and looking for a new member to fill their home with love.
“We can now announce we have found her PERFECT fit!! She will have a new Mom and Dad that treat their pups like kids. Dad works from home. They recently lost one of their fur babies, and had been looking for the right fit. They knew instantly, Dutchess was the one for them.”
They felt an instant connection with Dutchess, who was soon pre-adopted and renamed Lena.
Medical Care and Full Recovery
Before moving permanently with her new family, Lena visited a new veterinarian who recommended the removal of the cysts to improve her quality of life.
After a successful surgery and a brief recovery period in her foster home, Lena was ready to start her life anew with her adoptive family and dog brother.
Source: Rescue Dogs Dream
Life with Her New Family
Lena’s life with her new family was everything she and her rescuers could have hoped for.
She quickly bonded with her human and canine family members, enjoying endless playtimes and unconditional love.
Her parents described her as “wonderful” and expressed their deep affection for her, confirming that Lena was not just in a house but truly at home.
A Forever Happy Ending
Months later, RDD reflected on Lena’s journey with joy.
Her story continues to resonate as a powerful example of the impact of looking beyond the surface and giving animals a chance at a better life.
Lena is not only cherished for her sweet nature but also celebrated for the joy she brings to her family.
Source: Rescue Dogs Dream
Her tale is a reminder of the countless other animals in shelters waiting for someone to recognize their true worth and offer them a chance at happiness.
Here are the final words to this story, from OCAS:
“So come to the shelter with an open heart. Look inside every kennel. Look for Dutchess. Look for the ones no one wants.
That’s how you save a life.
That’s how you make a difference.
That’s how you change the world, for one.”
