SAMANTHA
WAITING FOR A FOREVER HOME
A DOG WHO HAD ALMOST GIVEN UP
Samantha, a four-year-old bully mix, had spent more than a year at Miami-Dade Animal Services. As the months passed, she became increasingly heartbroken, overlooked and seemingly convinced that no one was coming for her. But someone did.
Humans and Animals United saw Samantha’s shelter photographs and decided to take a chance on her. Rosa Fond later explained that the photographs broke their hearts, but HAAU knew they had to help her. When an HAAU volunteer went to pick Samantha up, she looked just as devastated in person as she had in the photographs. Then something changed.
Within minutes of getting into the rescue vehicle, Samantha’s expression began to change. Her frown turned into a smile. That was the beginning of Samantha opening up.
HAAU STEPS FORWARD
Samantha received the medical care she needed and was placed with a foster family. She began experiencing something she had been missing for a very long time — the security of a home and people who believed in her. She also completed rigorous training courses, helping her build confidence and prepare for the life HAAU hoped was waiting for her. But Samantha still needed one thing: A forever family.
Then, in August 2023, a loving couple came across Samantha’s story and immediately fell in love with the resilient dog behind the photographs. When they met her in person, they knew she was the one. The family went above and beyond to give Samantha everything she needed to flourish, and HAAU described the love they showed Samantha and the rescue as something they would always cherish.
SAMANTHA FOUND HER HOME
After a long and emotional journey, Samantha finally found the home she had been waiting for. Her new life was almost unimaginable compared with her days in the shelter.
She had comfortable beds to curl up on, toys to play with, walks around the neighborhood, naps by the pool and new dog siblings to wrestle with. Most importantly, she had people who loved her. The dog who had once been heartbroken and overlooked was now surrounded by love. Samantha’s smile said it all.
FOLLOW SAMANTHA’S JOURNEY
Samantha’s story is a beautiful example of what can happen when someone refuses to let a forgotten shelter dog remain forgotten.