Woman Finds 2 'Nervous' Street Dogs—Adopts One but Knows Someone Is Missing

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A Swiftie who attended the Eras Tour knew it would be a memorable night, but she never could have imagined just how it would change her life, and the lives of two street dogs she met along the way.
Brooke Morosca, of Orlando, Florida, traveled to New Orleans in October 2024 to attend Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. But the surprises started before she even got to the concert, friendship bracelets in tow, as she spotted a dog lying in the street.
Morosca, 24, got out of the car to get a better look, telling Newsweek that the yellow Labrador had no collar and was covered in fleas. There weren't any signs of a home nearby, so she wasn't sure where the canine came from.
"The dog came walking up to me with her tail wagging," Morosca said. "As she did that, a small black dog came running out of the bushes. He was also covered in fleas and looked extremely malnourished."
From left: Brooke Morosca pets Crumpet; and Rhysand stands outside in Louisiana.
From left: Brooke Morosca pets Crumpet; and Rhysand stands outside in Louisiana.
@brookemorosca / TikTok
It melted Morosca's heart to meet the two "nervous" dogs. As she walked toward the Airbnb to figure out a plan, she was stunned to see them follow her. The animals didn't want to leave her side, and she felt an instant connection.
Morosca and her friends stayed at the Airbnb for four nights, and their two guests were with them throughout.
"We gave them food and water, and I called my sister to pick up more supplies on their way. One of her friends worked at a shelter so she bought stuff and was even able to clip their nails," Morosca continued.
As wonderful as their company was during the trip, Morosca knew she was heading home and needed a long-term solution. She couldn't just leave and let them return to the streets.
Morosca bonded with both dogs, and she could sense that they "just wanted love." She felt connected with the black dog, fitting since that is a Taylor Swift song title, and before she left New Orleans, she knew he was meant to be her pet.
"I was able to get the black dog to warm up to me and trust me to pet him, which was so rewarding," she said.
Morosca contacted a local shelter to hold both dogs. It broke her heart to say goodbye, and she would have given anything to take them both. She made a promise to come back for them when she was permitted—a promise she intended to keep.
Both dogs had to undergo a three-day owner reclaim period. Shelter staff told Morosca that they recognized the duo, and they had been trying to take the owner to court for custody. If the owner didn't turn up in those three days, then the dogs would be available for adoption.
Morosca called every day for updates, but, on the third day, their owner appeared.
This elongated the process somewhat, and Morosca felt immense guilt that the dogs were in the shelter for a lot longer than intended. Nonetheless, she refused to lose hope.
Four months later, she was told that the black dog, now called Rhysand, was available for adoption. However, the yellow Labrador had been returned to the owner.
"What followed was a ton of mixed emotions," Morosca said. "Joy and gratitude that I was able to rescue him and give him a better life, but also sadness that she was in the exact same situation I tried to help her out of. And she was now doing it alone. I never stopped thinking about her and held on to hope that, somehow, I could help her."
From left: Brooke Morosca hugs Rhysand the rescue dog.
From left: Brooke Morosca hugs Rhysand the rescue dog.
@brookemorosca / TikTok
As happy as Rhysand seemed in his forever home, it was clear that he was missing something—or someone.
Several weeks later, Morosca felt an urge to check the shelter's website on a whim. By some miracle, the yellow Labrador was the top listing, and she knew exactly what to do next.
Morosca drove back to Louisiana to rescue her, and she was brought to tears when she finally reunited the dogs. The yellow Labrador, named Crumpet, is staying with a friend as she has heartworm so needs to recover.
Morosca isn't certain if she will be able to keep Crumpet forever, as it is a big financial commitment to keep two dogs. However, if she does have to rehome her, it will be to one of her close friends, and the dogs will enjoy regular playdates.
"I can't express how happy I am knowing that they are both healthy and they're finally going to have the lives they deserve," Morosca said.
She shared the incredible rescue story on TikTok (@brookemorosca) and the post went viral, with over 7.9 million views and more than 1.4 million likes at the time of writing. The online response is beyond anything she anticipated, and Morosca hopes their story will inspire others to help an animal in need, too.
With almost 3,500 comments on the viral TikTok post, social-media users hailed Morosca for allowing Rhysand and Crumpet to start their new eras.
One comment reads: "A true 'you belong with me' moment."
Another TikTok user wrote: "Omg you're the best for this. They are literally Sunshine and Midnight Rain."
A third person replied: "Eras Tour literally saving lives."
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