I cannot even begin to imagine what was on Imelda’s mind that day. Put in a small kennel in an overcrowded shelter in Kansas, she must’ve felt so alone and scared. This two-year-old pup literally couldn’t stop shaking; she backed up to the wall, seeking some comfort amidst the loud, high-pitched noises from other kennels. Imelda appeared like a deeply, devastatingly sad clown, so much so that her heartbreak resonated nationwide, leaving thousands in tears.
Facing Euthanasia
People couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw Imelda in such a terrible shape. Her harrowing footage spread rapidly across the internet, prompting many inquiries about her situation. The sad truth was that she was about to be put on the euthanasia list due to her fear, and she was powerless to change it. Fortunately, her story reached the Diamonds in the Ruff Rescue team from Missouri, who jumped into action.
“She made herself smaller as someone approached her in the kennel…she backed up to the wall in the kennel as if she was saying, I promise I’m good, I’ll be good, just give me a chance,” they recounted in a Facebook post.
Upon seeing Imelda’s dire condition, the rescue volunteered to help her find a loving foster home rather than remain in her tiny kennel.
In just a few days, she successfully left the shelter and transitioned to a new environment. Although still shaken from her previous ordeal, Imelda visibly began to feel more at ease. A cozy and peaceful setting provided her the comfort she craved, but what she cherished most was finally receiving love exclusively for herself. No longer was she just another dog in a crowded shelter; she was now the precious one!
A Whole New Life
With the help of her new foster mom, Stephanie, Imelda quickly learned the meaning of love. As a seasoned dog foster and avid dog lover, Stephanie embraced Imelda with open arms, and the dog was immensely grateful. She made friends with her dog siblings and became the house sweetheart. Despite her past trauma, she displayed remarkable behavior, such as potty training outside and sleeping soundly through the night.
“She’s good with kids and other dogs. She sleeps in her crate all night without a peep, no accidents…she whines and paces the house when she needs to go outside and is not food aggressive with either humans or dogs,” Stephanie shared in a Facebook post.
All she needed was a safe haven – a place to truly feel at home. Now that she had it, she transformed beautifully into a brand-new dog.
Looking at her now, Stephanie is amazed that Imelda once faced euthanasia simply for being a fearful dog.
“She is definitely coming around. To think she was on the Euth list for “fear”… NO REASON. Look at her bloom…her tail wags and she seems happy,” Stephanie wrote on Facebook.
Currently, Imelda is still searching for her forever home. She’s an absolute sweetheart and would fit into various households, but she prefers families with kids over ten years of age. Hopefully, her future humans are just around the corner, waiting for her!
