Emma was just two years old, but her body carried the weight of a much harder life. She was found in a public pound, injured, skeletal, and covered in mange and infected sores. One of her eyes was clouded and underdeveloped. And her limp made it clear: she had been in pain for a long time.
No one knew where she came from. The only story that made sense was “Emma had been a stray on the streets, struck by a car, and left to fend for herself”. Eventually, she was captured and brought to the pound. But there, no care came. Her condition only worsened.
She needed help urgently.
She was taken in and immediately received a thorough examination. X-rays revealed severe damage to the top of her femur. Surgery was required, but she was too weak for this. First, her skin infections were treated, and she was given the gentlest medical baths. Bit by bit, she began to feel better.
Emma’s tiny left eye was permanently hidden behind her third eyelid, which couldn’t be saved. It offered no vision, but thankfully, no pain either. Just one more mark from a past that tried to break her.
Finally, she was strong enough to undergo femoral head ostectomy (FHO) surgery. And she came through it like the quiet warrior she is. Five weeks in, she’s putting weight on her leg, getting stronger with every step. She still favors it when running, but she’s learning how to trust her body again. And people, too.
Emma is shy with strangers, but never unkind. She’s gentle, sweet, and peaceful. She gets along beautifully with other dogs and even with cats. All she needs now is a family who sees past her scars. Someone who understands that healing is both physical and emotional. Someone patient enough to give her the safety she’s never had.
