Too Scared to Walk, Rescue Dog Finds Joy Again When Reunited with Puppy Friends
When 40 Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd mixes were found crammed into a small apartment in Queens, New York, rescuers were stunned by the conditions they were living in. The dogs were hidden in closets and cupboards, with no access to fresh air or sunlight.
After the horrific discovery, it was “all hands on deck.” Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) coordinated with the ASPCA and 10 other rescue organizations to bring the dogs to safety and begin treating them physically and emotionally. One of the rescue partners who stepped forward to help was Zion’s Mission Animal Rescue. They took in 10 of the dogs, affectionately nicknamed the “Terrific 10.”
Among them was Sammie. They wrote on Instagram, “Sammie was the most shut down of all. Unwilling to walk, or interact with anyone. He had to be carried every time we moved him…”
When Sloane Quealy, co-founder of Zion’s Mission, went to pick Sammie up from ACC, he was too terrified to walk out of the kennel on his own. Quealy and her team had to lift him with a blanket and place him on a cart to bring him to their vehicle.
Even once loaded in the car, Sammie barely budged until one of the puppies they were also transporting that day barked. He perked up briefly, but then returned to being sullen.
“He had to be carried every time we moved him including last night from our loving vet @hbanimalclinic who neutered him,” Zion’s Mission shared on Instagram.
The team was concerned about how Sammie would adjust to his new surroundings, but things took a wonderful turn when he arrived at their trainer’s facility—Dawg House in Danbury, Connecticut, run by Jessica Roscetti. They had already dropped off five of the rescued puppies there.
When Sammie saw the puppies again, Quealy witnessed a moment she knew she had to share. Quealy/Zion’s Mission wrote on Instagram:
“As soon as we arrived at our trainer’s, we reunited him with a few of the puppies we pulled, and he immediately stood up. It was truly one of the most beautiful moments I have ever witnessed in rescue. His soul may have been bruised, but he is on his way to healing. After he saw the pups, Sammie let out the biggest sigh and laid down next to them. We knew at that very moment he knew he was safe and loved.”
They shared a video of Sammie interacting with Roscetti and the pups.
Not long after, Sammie began showing off his playful side—chasing a ball and playing with the puppies. In just a short time, he’s made amazing progress. “Words cannot express how much we enjoy seeing them blossom in a positive, spacious environment where they can just be dogs and learn proper doggy behavior,” Zion’s Mission wrote.
Sammie and the other dogs will stay at the Dawg House for at least a month to recover and recuperate.
“Sammie is coming out of his shell and approaching me to be loved,” Roscetti told The Dodo. “He will come up from behind me and just barely touch the back of my knee with his nose to tell me he’s there and would like some pets.”
Sammie and the other dogs aren’t ready for adoption yet, but Zion’s Mission is accepting applications. Potential adopters must have breed experience.
The rescue wrote: “We will be adopting out in the Tri-state area, but please be patient with us and the dogs, as our priority and best interest is always with the dogs and their long-term health and well-being. If you are potentially interested in adopting and have breed experience, please apply on our site.” If you’d like to make a donation to support the Terrific 10 visit their website or take a look at their wishlist.