In 2015, she entered the shelter. No name, only a number—298.
10
years later, she left the shelter for the first time and got a
name—Laika.
But now, she might have to go back into the cage again.
—Every $5 gives her another day staying outside the cage, and brings her closer to a forever home.
>> The Invisible Dog at the Shelter
“That yellow one? She’s been here a long
time.”That’s all the shelter staff said about Laika. No
other details.
Laika spent 10 years in the shelter without ever being adopted. As an older, smaller-sized dog in the shelter, her body is marked with scars from fighting for food.
Around humans, she neither get close nor shows fear. Only complete unfamiliarity. One can’t help but wonder if, in all those years, anyone ever chose her to come out, even just for brief interaction.
>> Rescue Gone Wrong
Laika was brought out of the shelter for foster care. The
shelter described her as old but healthy, with no notable medical
history, and regularly dewormed. But soon after arriving, serious
problems emerged. Ticks and a blood parasite (Babesia gibsoni) were
discovered, forcing her into isolation. The resident dogs reacted with
unexpected aggression, and around the same time, one of them was
diagnosed with liver disease. The home became tense and stressful, far
from the ideal environment for animals to rest.
“This rescue is a complete failure.” the
caregiver said.
>>Trying to Pick Up the Pieces
We began exploring every possible alternative for Laika to stay.
Sadly, most places wouldn’t take her. Under emotional strain and risk
management, returning her to the shelter started to feel like the only
choice left.
Yet day by day, Laika shows she’s worth a better life. Gentle and quiet, she asks for very little: a safe corner to rest, simple food, and occasional walks. She finds joy in the breeze and falling leaves, loves shrimp & strawberries, and dislikes touching water.
If she were to return to the shelter now, it’s unlikely she’d ever be adopted—or noticed.
>>What This Fundraiser Is For
Fortunately we have found a facility willing to care for Laika,
but the cost of her care remains beyond our budgets.
This fundraiser will help cover the gap, allowing Laika to
live in outside world for 1 more year, and receive necessary
medical care for blood parasite. Every extra day
not only gives her a chance to recover, but also gives us more time to
observe and understand her, share her wonderful qualities, and to
increase her chances of finding a forever home.
This funding will be used to:
-
Cover the gap in Laika’s
1-year foster care costs
Every $5 gives her another day staying outside the cage — one more day to heal, to learn, and to wait for the family meant for her. -
Support her medical treatment and well-being
covering necessary treatments and ongoing care to manage her conditions and improve her chances of being adopted.
!!! Every contribution makes a difference !!!
>>Why Laika?
Laika does not stand out at first glance. Or the tenth. Her
story is not dramatic tragedy. Just a quiet, chronic loneliness that
has lasted for a decade.
When Laika was chosen, shelter staff asked:
"Why this one? She’s been here too long. She’s used to
it. Why not take younger one instead?"
So when will it be Laika’s turn? When will she be considered worthy of being saved? In a way, her tragedy may be that she’s “not tragic enough.” With your help, we can turn this rescue—which is on the brink of failure—around. If a quiet, senior dog like Laika can make the list of lives being changed, then no dog is beyond hope.
