A dog who was abandoned in a shed and left for dead hasn’t given up hope, despite the neglect she has endured, because all she wants is a loving home.
Toffee, who is thought to be a 2-year-old pit-bull mix, arrived at Genesee County Animal Control on June 4, alongside her sister Caramel. The pair had been through undeniable pain and suffering, having been abandoned in a closed shed.
Hannah Peterson, 27, a staff member of GCAC, told Newsweek that she and her colleagues presume the dogs were “left for dead, based on their physical state.” The sisters were emaciated, had painfully long nails, and sores on their body.
“We don’t know for sure how long they were trapped in the shed, but by the time we found them, they were skin and bones,” Peterson said. “I cannot fathom how somebody could leave two innocent souls to perish with zero chance of survival without human intervention.”
Staff at the shelter in Flint, Michigan, immediately did what they could to make the dogs feel comfortable. Toffee was noticeably weak and seemed very shy. It is understandable that she didn’t know if she could trust people, given the trauma she had faced.
For the first few hours and days, Toffee was hunched over in her kennel, as Peterson could see just how defeated she looked. There was so much pain in her eyes, as Toffee simply didn’t know if she was going to be hurt again.
“She really wasn’t interested in interacting with anyone until we brought both her and her sister outside together. Toffee’s entire demeanor changed immediately; her anxiety seemed to dissipate, and her tail started to wag,” Peterson said.
As a result, Toffee’s confidence grew, and she was able to start interacting with people.
She has endured so much already, but Toffee hasn’t lost all hope and is said to be “the sweetest little soul.” She became far more affectionate with staff, and it is clear that all she wants is to be loved.
For now, Toffee has been placed in a foster home where she can rest and recuperate in peace. She needs to gain more weight before she can be spayed and subsequently cleared for adoption.
The ideal home for Toffee would be somewhere calm that allows her to decompress and gradually come out of her shell. There is no telling how long her recovery could take, so she needs someone patient.
“If you look past the heartache and loneliness in her eyes, you can see a glimmer of hope,” Peterson said. “She’s the kind of dog that is going to absolutely blossom once in a loving home because she is ready to make up for lost time. We don’t know if she has ever been inside a real home before, so taking baby steps will be very important. She would love a patient adopter that promises to spoil her and love her unconditionally.”
Peterson shared a tear-jerking video on TikTok (@hannahreneepeterson) showing how sorrowful Toffee looked in the shelter, as her eyes carried “so much heartache, loneliness, and uncertainty.”
The clip has captured plenty of attention online, leading to more than 18,000 views and over 7,000 likes on TikTok in just a matter of days.
While it is difficult to see these heartbreaking videos, Peterson said that it is vital for people to see them to address the animal welfare crisis that is ongoing. She added that she thinks of her videos as a call to action to show people the severity of the abuse and neglect that is happening across the country.
Since the video of Toffee was shared, social-media users were desperate to help, leading to almost 800 comments on TikTok so far.
One comment reads: “Ohh she is beautiful! I hope someone saves her soon!”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Toffee needs the biggest hug. Her forever family is coming and she’s going to let out the deepest sigh that first cuddle.”
A third commenter replied: “Broken, scared, and really malnourished. I wouldn’t even call someone a human who would do this to an animal.”
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