Imagine being a shelter worker at an  open intake shelter that is forced to euthanize dogs weekly for space. Every dog adopted is a celebration and restores a bit of hope until one day, a couple walks into your shelter with a dog they adopted 5 years ago that is now in deplorable condition [before and after photo below]. But that's not all, the adopters make an unimaginable request of you -  to euthanize their friendly dog that is greeting you with eager kisses.
 

The vet technician who would be tasked with the unsettling request to end the life of Kokomo was so distraught she begged her superiors to make a last ditch effort to save her life. They only had two hours to find rescue so a single, Hail Mary phone call was placed to New Hope Animal Rescue, and when we heard this poor soul was almost grateful to being in the shelter where she was soaking up love and desperate for attention, we knew we couldn't let this be the end of her story. A New Hope volunteer rushed to the shelter and her life was saved with moments to spare. 

Driven directly to a vet, Dr. Poling stated she has 'elephant' skin which results from years of a neglected skin condition and the hair loss pattern is consistent with flea infestation. He detected notable damage to her teeth that is consistent with chewing on cage bars and her bloodwork showed us she has a thyroid condition that could explain why she was so thin.  As our vet stated, none of these issues are "yesterday's problems". Her health and vet care needs have been neglected for many years. 

But thanks to our supporters, Kokomo now knows the comforts of living inside a home and enjoys the love and affection she has craved for so long as we treat her medical conditions. Because her skin condition was neglected for so many years, her hair is not likely to grow back fully, so she will need an adopter who sees her inner beauty that radiates so brightly when she offers that gentle kiss.