When a pup named Noel arrived at Lucky Dog after being rescued by Florence County Environmental Services, she was in rough shape—extremely shy, frightened of her new surroundings, and very pregnant.
Fortunately, the shelter prioritized placing pregnant dogs in foster homes, so as soon as a loving home became available, Noel was on her way to start a new chapter. CONTINUE BELOW
Noel gave birth to a healthy litter, caring for them until each puppy was adopted. While she was sad to see her pups leave, finding a loving home for herself proved difficult. She remained fearful around new people. Thankfully, the Florence shelter found her a long-term foster home with wonderful humans dedicated to building her confidence.
Noel arrived at the loving home of Irene Marquez, an animal rescuer with 18 years of experience. “We had to carry her into the house, and she huddled in her crate for 18 hours. It was heartbreaking,” Marquez recalled. CONTINUE BELOW
With time and patience, Noel gradually started to feel safe. She began to enjoy long walks and loved helping care for over two dozen foster puppies, who also helped her relax and embrace her inner puppy.
As Noel became more loving and playful, she caught the attention of potential adopters. When Joe Capra and Valerie Smith saw her, they knew she was the one. “We learned she had been in foster care for three years and thought, ‘No more of that,’” Capra said. The couple rushed to gather supplies for their new furry friend. Initially unsure how to react, Noel quickly claimed a spot on the couch. CONTINUE BELOW
“It’s important to meet each dog where they are. When we first met Noel, she was very shy and rarely let us pet her. Building trust takes time, but it’s truly rewarding,” Smith explained. As they spent more time together, Noel realized that this couple was what she had been waiting for all along. After 1,263 days in shelters searching for her forever home, this sweet girl finally found her place.
