Meet Dutchess, a sweet shelter dog with an endearing face and an even bigger heart. At four years old, Dutchess found herself at Orange County Animal Services (OCAS), hoping that one day, the right person would come and take her home.
For more than a month, Dutchess waited eagerly, her nose pressed against the kennel door, anticipating the arrival of her new parents. Her tail wagged with excitement whenever she heard someone approaching, but to her dismay, they passed by without giving her a second glance.
The reason behind the constant rejection puzzled Dutchess’ friends at OCAS. They suspected it was due to the two pom-pom-sized cysts under her eyes, which unfortunately led visitors to judge her solely on her appearance.
OCAS expressed their heartbreak over the situation, sharing on Facebook, “It doesn’t affect her in any way except one: People cannot seem to get past it… She looks so ugly.’ ‘What’s wrong with her? She’ll never get adopted.'”
Despite the discouraging remarks, Dutchess remained relentlessly optimistic and continued to adore everyone she encountered, running up to the kennel doors each day with unwavering hope.
Thankfully, the tide turned when Rescue Dogs Dream, Inc. (RDD) spotted OCAS’s post about Dutchess on Facebook. The organization took immediate action and swiftly arranged for Dutchess to be taken from OCAS to a loving foster home.
The sweet girl settled in comfortably at her foster home, completely unaware that adoption applications and inquiries were already pouring in. RDD found the perfect family for Dutchess, and she was officially pre-adopted.
Before going to her forever home, Dutchess underwent a vet check, where concerns arose about the cysts under her eyes potentially affecting her vision and causing discomfort. A week later, the cysts were successfully removed, and Dutchess, now known as Lena, embarked on her journey to recovery.
Lena’s foster home provided her with the love and care she needed post-surgery, and in no time, her forever family came to pick her up. Lena was ecstatic to meet her new parents and dog brother, instantly feeling the love and warmth they offered.
Fully recovered, Lena now enjoys her best life with her loving family by her side. The loyal and affectionate pup has formed an unbreakable bond with her new family, who can’t help but adore her playful and endearing personality.
Lena’s journey from being “passed over” to finding unconditional love warms the hearts of those who witnessed her transformation. RDD couldn’t be happier for their special girl, knowing she will be cherished and loved for the rest of her life.
