Clementine was just two days away from euthanasia when Chelsea Elizabeth Cossairt saw her photo online. The extremely weak puppy had been found just a few weeks ago by Animal Control officers roaming the streets of Southern California.
Due to her many health problems, she was placed on the “death corridor” in a high-risk shelter. However, something in the photograph of Clementine touched Cossairt’s heart. So he sent an application for adoption and immediately received the rescue call.
“The person who had called from the shelter was amazed and cried when he found out we were interested in Clementine,” Cossairt said. “He told us that of the hundreds of adoption applications they had received in recent weeks, none had been for Clementine.”
The volunteer explained to them that, in the state of Clementine, she will have a long and unpredictable road to travel. But Cossairt was determined and willing to do anything to help the abandoned dog heal.
When Cossairt finally met Clementine face to face, it was clear that the poor puppy had never known love before.
“Clementine was terrified of people and couldn’t look anyone in the eye,” Cossairt recalls. “He was shaking all the time, hiding behind furniture and sitting on the wall for months.”
“Her eyes were bare and her eyes were lost,” she added. “The puppy never looked at us and lowered his head whenever we went to her or sat next to her.”
After several visits to the vet and months of treatment for infections and allergies, Clementine began to feel better and stopped shaking. She even had the courage to look her human parents in the eye.
Seven months later, sitting fondly watching her adoptive parents had become Clementine’s new favorite.
Anyway, that scared dog in the shelter that was on death row now knows what love is. Her new family does everything for this adorable puppy to live the life she deserves!