Shelter dog ‘almost didn't make it.' She got better — then came ‘happy tears'
Nearly one year after Arla the dog received a 'life-saving' blood transfusion, she has been adopted in Florida.
'When her adoption day finally came after more than 300 days in our care, it was exciting but emotional,' Shelby Hicks, public relations and community engagement coordinator for an animal shelter, told McClatchy News in a July 9 email. 'There were definitely a few happy tears from the team who had been cheering and caring for her for so long.'
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Brevard celebrated the emotional adoption after a journey that started in September. Arla was found as a 'stray with infected wounds' before being transferred to the shelter, McClatchy News previously reported.
'When she came to our facility, her wounds had healed and she seemed like just a scared little girl,' the SPCA wrote Sept. 21 in a Facebook post. 'However, after a few days with us it became apparent something else was going on. She became so weak that she would fall over.'
It turns out, Arla had Babesia gibsoni, a parasite that can cause anemia. As the shelter waited for medication, a heroic pup stepped in. Rhonda, another adoptable dog, donated blood to save Arla's life, according to the SPCA.
The sick dog got better, and she became known for being loyal and shy. Eventually, she had spent more time at the shelter than any other animal.
'Arla was fearful when she first arrived, and it took time for her to open up even with our staff,' Hicks wrote. 'Meeting new people was especially hard for her.'
As Arla waited for a dog-free home, she became less timid and stopped tucking her tail between her legs. Then came the good news that she was adopted.
'This sweet girl stole the hearts of our team with her resilience, love of snuggles, and her journey learning to trust again,' the shelter wrote July 8 on Facebook. 'While she waited patiently for a family to call her own, we always knew someone out there would see just how special she is.'
As of July 11, the dog who saved Arla's life is now the shelter's longest resident. Rhonda, who was rescued from dog fighting, is known for her energy and resilience, McClatchy News reported.
The SPCA is in Titusville, a roughly 40-mile drive east from Orlando.
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