Imagine the level of despair Roxi must have felt when her owner tied her to a light pole and abandoned her on the side of a highway in Long Island, New York. The four-year-old English Mastiff must have longed to run after her owner, but sadly, she could only watch as he turned his back on her and disappeared, leaving her alone and heartbroken.
Scared and feeling hopeless, Roxi began to yelp, hoping that someone would show her kindness and rescue her from this dire situation.
Roxi’s Hero Comes To Her Aid
Ray Quinones, a Garden City Sanitation worker, happened to be driving to work when he noticed Roxi tied to the pole. Shocked by the sight, he immediately got out of his car to assist her. As he got closer, he heard her distressed yelping.
While Roxi felt a sense of relief upon seeing him, her nervousness surfaced as he approached. Understanding her fear, Quinones chose to keep a safe distance. He spotted a bowl filled with food left beside her and decided to call the police, staying by Roxi’s side until they arrived, bringing her some comfort in her lonely state.
Upon untying Roxi, the officers discovered a note next to the food bowl stating, “This is Roxi, a trained American Bullmastiff. She is four years old. She has been fed and given a flea bath, but may still have issues with them. Please ensure she receives good care.” After taking her to the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, Roxi was examined and found to be in good health, though slightly underweight.
The authorities were appalled that someone would leave Roxi unattended near such a busy highway and initiated an investigation to locate her owner. According to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, “The Southern State Parkway is one of our most traveled and treacherous highways. It is no place to abandon a four-year-old animal; leaving a note with well-wishes just doesn’t cut it.” Shortly thereafter, they managed to find and arrest Roxi’s owner.
Roxi Turns Her Life Around
Despite the heartbreak and trauma she experienced, Roxi had a sweet disposition and tried her best to adapt to shelter life. Many across the U.S. were moved by her story, sparking an outpouring of interest from families wanting to adopt her.
A wonderful couple, John and Sandy Reeve, were captivated when they saw Roxi on TV; she resembled their late Mastiff, Hannah. Although they initially did not plan to adopt again, they felt a connection and reached out to the shelter. Even though the shelter was not accepting applications at the time, when they heard the Reeves’ story, they allowed them to apply.
During a meet-and-greet, the Reeves took Roxi for a walk, and despite her fear of men from past trauma, she immediately connected with Mr. Reeve. “When I sat down, she came, put her head on my lap, and slobbered me up,” he recounted to The Suffolk Times.
It was evident to the staff that Roxi had chosen the Reeves to be her forever family, and on July 15th of 2024, they welcomed her into their home in Aquebogue, New York. As soon as Roxi settled into her new environment, joy radiated from her.
Now, Roxi lives her dream life, showering her owners with love and enjoying the freedom of roaming their three-acre waterfront property. It fills my heart with joy knowing that Roxi has turned her life around and found her happily ever after.
